AN EXAMINATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SHARING SELFIES AMONG STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background Of Study

In the contemporary era of digital technology, social media pervades all aspects of society and has significantly integrated into the daily lives of individuals, particularly the younger generation. Social media has emerged as a prominent means for individuals to acquire knowledge. Adegboyega (2020) categorises media into two primary forms: print and non-print. Print media include physical means of communication such as mail, newspapers, magazines, and journals. On the other hand, non-print media refers to electronic platforms like radio, television, and social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others. Furthermore, media serves as a powerful instrument that enables individuals across the globe to mould their perspectives, dispositions, and understanding. According to Angus, Thelwall, and Stuart (2018), social media offers individuals a wide range of information on different facets of life. It has facilitated significant development and expansion by providing individuals with platforms to connect with the globe and contribute to global advancement. With the increasing prevalence of media usage, notably among young people, individuals are utilising it as a means to acquire knowledge about various aspects such as societal history, diverse concepts, faiths, and more. In addition, social media platforms have transformed into influential communication tools, allowing individuals to establish connections, exchange information, and interact on a worldwide level. The fluid and ever-changing nature of these platforms has greatly altered interpersonal relationships, impacting the manner in which individuals engage, communicate, and establish connections. Similarly, the platforms offer a digital environment where users may freely exchange their thoughts, ideas, images, and videos with their acquaintances and supporters, promoting a feeling of inclusion and individuality.Moreover, social media serves as a means for individuals, especially students, to cultivate connections with others and foster closer bonds, whether online or in social settings.Facilitates seamless communication and information sharing using audio, video, and image formats, regardless of geographical constraints.Moreover, they function as a medium for online communication and social engagement, allowing users to exchange information, articulate perspectives, and create relationships with a wide range of persons and organisations on the internet (Bradley, 2019).However, these technological improvements, along with the growing accessibility of mobile phones, positioned Nigeria as a centre for technical innovation. Thus, it is unsurprising that Nigerian young adults, within a few years, transitioned from being the least engaged Facebook users in Africa to becoming the fourth most engaged Twitter users on the continent.The act of taking one's own photographs has become a widespread and notable aspect of contemporary society. The culture that is currently gaining popularity has captivated not only young children but also adults and artists. Selfies have become a prevalent cultural phenomenon among young individuals. It is enjoyable and captivates the youthful intellect. The term "selfie" refers to a contemporary cultural trend that emerged in the 21st century. It is a widespread practice that became common with the introduction of mobile phones that have internet capabilities. The practice of exchanging "cartes de visite," which are small-sized photographs, originated in the 1860s. The photo cubicle was created in 1880, which led individuals to take self-photographs in a manner similar to today (Volpe, 2013). The invention of the self-timer in the 1880s allowed individuals to take photographs of themselves by setting their camera and positioning themselves inside a specified time period of 5 to 10 seconds. 

(Michae, 1995). This marks the inception of what is currently referred to as a selfie or self-portrait. 

The colloquial term "selfie" originated in 2002 in an online post from Australia and was chosen by the Oxford Dictionary as the word of the year in 2013. A selfie is a self-portrait snapshot that an individual captures of themselves, usually using a Smartphone or webcam, and then shares it on a social networking platform (Day, 2013). Saltz (2010) provided a concise definition of a selfie as a rapid self-portrait taken with a smartphone's camera and promptly shared on a social network for instantaneous visual communication. This form of self-expression reveals the person's location, activity, self-perception, and awareness of an audience. A selfie refers to a photograph captured using a smartphone or webcam and then shared on social media platforms to convey one's perceived identity. A selfie captures the current condition of one's emotions, actions, or thoughts. Selfies have emerged as a novel means of expressing and presenting oneself. Selfie serves as a method of engaging with an audience. Selfie culture, on the other hand, pertains to the practice of sharing digital pictures. In 1839, an amateur chemist and photographer named Robert Cornelius took the very first selfie. He used a camera located in the rear of his family store to create a daguerreotype of himself. The selfie culture has become increasingly popular due to the technological developments in photography and the widespread use of social media. The introduction of the self-timer in the late 1880s enabled individuals to preconfigure their camera and allocate themselves a 5 to 10-second window to position oneself in the frame before shooting an image. It is widely accepted that this introduced the concept of self-photography. Currently, cameras have advanced to such a high degree of complexity that they are integrated into mobile devices such as smartphones.This has made selfphotographs easier, more convenient, and handier.Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to examine the influence of social media in sharing selfies among students.

1.2 Statement of  the Problem

The phenomenon of taking self-portraits, commonly known as 'selfies', has been found to be associated with mental health issues and a lack of self-confidence. The Oxford Dictionary, available online, provides a concise definition of a selfie or 'selfy' as "a photograph taken by oneself, usually using a smartphone or webcam, and shared through social media." Selfies can have more bad effects than positive ones, such as the development of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Body Dysmorphic Disorder due to a fixation with taking selfies. According to Briggs (2014), extensive use of social media platforms like Facebook, particularly for viewing friends' photos, has been found to potentially contribute to women developing feelings of insecurity around their body image. As students are increasingly exposed to "selfies" and other photographs on social media, their tendency to compare oneself unfavourably also increases. Additionally, researchers have discovered that the problems associated with taking selfies are primarily related to one's self-image, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Furthermore, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has formally categorised the act of taking 'Selfies' as a mental condition. Indeed, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) asserted that the illness should be referred to as 'Selfitis' (Sturt and Nordstrom, 2014).Similarly, the growing popularity of selfies worldwide, including in Nigeria, has raised concerns among scholars about the potential negative effects of this prominent social media trend that transcends age boundaries. (Spohr, 2019). One of the negative effects that may arise from using social media is the possibility of an increase in narcissistic tendencies among users (Oytun, 2020). Other potential negative consequences include feelings of isolation, suicide, psychopathology (Lee & Sung, 2016; Bushak, 2015), aggression, anxiety, self-harm, depression, envy, and various other issues (Rosen, 2011; Connolly, 2011; Zwart, Lindsay, Henderson, & Phillips, 2011). These effects have previously been linked to adverse environmental conditions such as persistent illness, challenging relationships, financial difficulties, significant loss, and undesired disruptions in life patterns, as well as alcohol, drug, or substance misuse (Mosel, Hardey, and Kelley, 2021).

Multiple studies have examined the phenomenon of selfies, with a particular emphasis on the younger generation (Tifentale & Manovich, 2014; Abdullah, 2015; Uma & Evangeline, 2017; Oduba, 2017; Onyedire, 2019), who are found to be highly active in online self-presentation. Furthermore, individuals strategically reframe their utilization of social media platforms to establish social connections (Singh, Amiri & Sabbarwal, 2017). They also utilize these platforms to share personal information and get personal satisfaction, such as self-actualization, recognition, significance, popularity, and overall social welfare (Ngonso, 2019). Considering these factors, experts have characterized these individuals as being hooked to online interactions and always connected to the internet (Ngonso, 2019), likely in order to establish and maintain connections, seek employment, explore economic prospects, and share personal information such as photographs. Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to examine the influence of social media in sharing selfies among students.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the influence of social media in sharing selfies among students. The specific objectives include the following:

1.Determine the extent to which students share selfies on social media.

2.Investigate the factors motivating students to share selfies on social media.

3.Assess the impact of sharing selfies on students' self-esteem

4.Determine the risks that comes with sharing selfies on social media.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will be answered in this study:

To what extent do students share selfies on social media?

2. What are the factors motivating students to share selfies on social media?

3. What are the impact of sharing selfies on students' self-esteem?

4. What are the risks that comes with sharing selfies on social media?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The following research null hypothesis will validate this study:

H0:Sharing selfies has no significant impact on students' self-esteem.

Ha:Sharing selfies has a significant impact on students' self-esteem.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study's results will assist parents and guardians in instructing and enlightening their young ones about suitable and beneficial online behaviour. Furthermore, social media platform management corporations might utilize the research to enhance their services, create more secure virtual environments, and include features that promote positive user interactions.Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard the influence of social media in sharing selfies among students.

1.7 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the impact of social media among youths on behaviour change.Empirically, this study will determine the extent to which students share selfies on social media, investigate the factors motivating students to share selfies on social media, assess the impact of sharing selfies on students' self-esteem and determine the risks that comes with sharing selfies on social media.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to undergraduate students of FUOYE, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Social Media: can be defined as web based services where users can create a public profile, create a list of users they are connected to, and access their own and other users’ list of contacts (Boyd & Ellison, 2018). 

Selfie: is any photograph taken with a smartphone or a webcam and uploaded to a social media to communicate one’s perceived identity.