Social Media usage (SMU) and Delinquent Behaviour (DB) among Secondary School Students in Delta State.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between social media usage and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students in Delta state. In the course of the study, one research question and one hypothesis were tested. The correlational research design was adopted. The population was made up of 72,854 senior secondary school students in Delta State. A sample size of 1,045 students was selected through a multistage sampling procedure. A questionnaire made up of standardised items was used to gather data. The questionnaire was validated by experts’ judgement and factor analysis. The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was used to estimate the reliability index of the instrument. The Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient of Determination was used to answer the research question, while regression statistics were used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that a significant positive relationship exists between social media usage and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students in Delta State. The researcher recommended that parents and other relevant stakeholders play their role in monitoring and reducing the amount of time teenagers spend on social media.