Exploring Relationship between Social Media Use and Antisocial Behaviour among Tertiary Institution Students: An Investigative Study of Influencing Factors

This study explored the relationship between social media use, antisocial behaviour and its impact on tertiary institution students. The influencing factors were examined. The prevalent types of antisocial behaviour on social media platforms among students in tertiary institutions, contributory factors to the development of antisocial behaviour, the average hours spent by students on social media per day, as well as the difference between male and female students in their use of social media to facilitate online harassment in tertiary institutions were identified. A descriptive survey design was used with a structured questionnaire. A total of two hundred and twenty respondents who were students of the University of Ibadan and Polytechnic Ibadan participated in the study and a descriptive data analysis technique was used to present and analyse the data. The questionnaire consisted of questions relating to the types of prevalent antisocial behaviour, contributory factors to antisocial behaviour on social media as well as the relationship between the use of social media and antisocial behaviour among others. While the questionnaires were administered online to respondents in the University of Ibadan, printed questionnaires were administered to respondents at the Polytechnic, Ibadan The study found that social media has a significant impact on antisocial behaviour among students in tertiary institutions. It also revealed the contributory factors to the development of antisocial behaviour among students in tertiary institutions. It was recommended among others, that campaigns, and workshops should be organized to create awareness on responsible social media usage and the consequences of antisocial behaviour. Keywords: Antisocial Behaviour, Social Media, Students, and Tertiary Institutions