CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Social media (sometimes referred to as web 2.0) is a hot topic in information gathering. Students are keen to find out ways to use Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs and other social media applications to information gathering purposes. There seems to be two approaches to social media in the information gathering context. First one is the information gathering approach. It considers how social media applications can advance information source identification and information gathering.
Newer communication technologies have increased the possibilities for how people can send and receive information. Social media are one such technology that has seen increased usage as an information source (Pepitone, 2010).
Social media networks are fast becoming very popular means of both interpersonal and public communication in Nigeria. Social media networks are modern interactive communication channels through which people connect to one another, share ideas, experiences, pictures, messages and information of interest.
They are interactive networks which information and communication technology (ICTs) bequeath to the modern society through the instrumentality of the Internet and the telecommunication gadgets. The Internet makes it possible to expand the networks and to increase the possibilities for communicating with wider audiences on the globe. The interactive aura of the new media confers an unprecedented popularity on them. Also the ubiquity of the Social media networks within their short period of arrival is unparalleled in the annals of media industry. Awake (2011) buttresses this point by noting that ‘‘social networking has become hugely popular. Similarly, it took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million users, 13 years for television to attract the same number and 4 years for the Internet to do so, but it took Facebook 12-month only to gain 200 million users. Social media networks provide various interactive platforms based on the intentions of their founders. There are for instance, social, political, academic, businesses, sports, romantic and religious platform. In other words, the social networking site by their nature has the capabilities of educating, informing, entertaining and inflaming the audience. Onomo (2012) acknowledged this ability of the media by remarking that Social media networks has become ‘‘a widespread tool for communication and exchange of ideas, helping individuals and organizations with just causes to reach a phenomenally vast audience that could hitherto not be reached by traditional media.’‘ Thus, since inception, Social media networks like Facebook, twittser,2go, My Space, Skype etc. have mesmerized millions of users, many of whom have been made to use these sites as parts of their daily activities. Currently, there is a plethora of social networks with various features meant to suit the different interests of their followers. Some are accessed via computer alone while others can be used with mobile phones. The first identifiable Social media networks was launched in 1997, six degree. It allowed its users to create profiles, list their friends and in 1998, introduced the friends list where users had the freedom to search for old and new friends. This however was devoid of the provision for users to upload their profile pictures. Other Social media networks like classmates were founded to aid social interaction among their users but did not have many features like six degrees. Other Social media networks like Friendster and myspace created virtual community, which would help its members locate old and new ones, shape their personal profile via the Internet and socially idea or opinion under the sun. Two years later, Jack Dorsey Launched Twitter as an online blogging site, while the most recent 2go was founded in 2008 by Michael S. Egan. Therefore, just like radio and television, social networking has spread everywhere in Nigeria and are bound to be sprouting as the new media for are still obscure. In other words, from the analysis carried out by the researcher from the world Internet statistics (2012) it was found that out of the total population of 170,123,740 Nigeria, 5,860,240 numbers of people used Facebook as of 2012.
1.2. STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
The use of the social media as channels of communication is a growing trend in Nigeria now, like in virtually all parts of the globe. In the country, the people including university students make use of the new media. Meanwhile, Baran (2010) argues that “technology can be used in ways beneficial and otherwise…technology is a double-edged sword. Its power - for good and for bad - resides in us.” That is say, people (users) determine what they do with technology, and the problems now are: For which purposes do Nigerian students use the social media? Does the use of the social media reduce the amount of time the students devote to their studies? Do the social media have any positive input on the students‟ studies? These constitute the core problems this study seeks to systematically unravel.
1.3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major aim of the study is to examine the rising trend in the use of social media networks in seeking information in Nigeria. Other general objectives of the study are;
1. To study the types of social media networks used by Nigerian students in seeking information.
2. To examine the major prospects of seeking information through the social media.
3. To examine the negative influence of social media on Nigeria students.
4. To examine the major reason for the rising trend in the use of social media networks by students seeking information.
5. To examine if social media enhances information gathering among Nigerian students.
6. To recommend ways of improving information gathering among students.
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the types of social media networks used by Nigerian students in seeking information?
2. What are the major prospects of seeking information through the social media?
3. What are the negative influences of social media on Nigeria students?
4. What is the major reason for the rising trend in the use of social media networks by students seeking information?
5. Do social media enhance information gathering among Nigerian students?
6. What are the ways of improving information gathering among students?
1.5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is expected that the output of this research will benefit Nigerian students as it will show the level of the students’ use of social networking sites during information gathering. This shall help them to understand how best to sustain the students attention on using social networking sites. Also this work will be of immense benefit to the field of Library and information sciences as it will be on addition to existing literature. And shall also add to the available academic literatures on social networking. Also the findings could be used by academic advisers and counselors proffer professional advice to the university authorities on how to regulate the social network usage among Nigerian students. Again, the findings of this study would provide facts that will enable the ministry of communication technology to know what arises from students’ use of the social networking sites. This will help the ministry, to know how to control social network usage Upon successful completion of this research, it shall be very relevant to various people, across Nigeria.
1.7. SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is restricted to the rising trend in the use of social media networks by students in seeking information.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
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