DJCCMT

Delta Journal of Computing, Communications and Media Technologies

ISSN:3092-8478

Advancing research and innovation at the intersection of computing technology and media. A publication of Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

Delta Journal of Computing, Communications and Media Technologies(DJCCMT) is an open access double-blind peer reviewed and refereed Journal that brings together reasoned thoughts, research, and industry practice in areas of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, System Engineering, Data Science, Analytics, Embedded Systems, Information and System Security, Media Studies, Communication Technologies, Information Science, Library Science, Educational Technologies, Applied Computing, and related disciplines in a reader-friendly format. The Journal is published online monthly with print version issue in February, May, August and November.

Delta Journal of Computing, Communications and Media Technologies

Volume 1 · Issue 1 · December 2024
Title of Paper

PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS CATALYST OF DRUG ABUSE AND CRIMINALITY IN THE MORAL COMPASS OF TEENAGERS IN ASABA METROPOLIS, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigates how social media affects drug abuse and criminal behaviour among teenagers in the Asaba Metropolis of Delta State in Nigeria. The paper examined online drug content exposure among teenagers because these trends affect their substance use behaviour, declining morals and rising propensity for crime. The study adopted a descriptive survey of 398 teenagers aged 13 to 19 selected through multi-stage sampling. A 0.84 reliability scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.84) measured the survey data before researchers analyses the same with SPSS v27 using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation and regression techniques. Results demonstrated that drug-use content viewing occurs frequently by 65.6% of respondents. In comparison, celebrity advertising patterns extend to 64.8% of the group, and 66.8% of respondents believe drug users obtain acceptance from society. Online exposure led to substance use among 65.3% of respondents, and curiosity about drugs due to digital content was reported by 63.5%, and 64.8% believed drug usage had a trendy status. The survey showed that 70.9% of participants had personal connections with peers who became criminals due to drug abuse. In comparison, 69.3% observed a drug-violence connection, and 69.6% reported seeing a connection between drug use and gender-based crimes. Further statistical analysis revealed no relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour and online exposures (p > 0.05). This research develops media crime knowledge by discovering broad evidence versus perception mismatches. The study proposes binary solutions, including stronger anti-drug advertisement efforts, educational digital literacy classes, and improved parental monitoring, to prevent youth from succumbing to digital moral deception.

Authors

Okwudili Ben Okanume, Olusegun Ogundimu

Keywords

Social Media, Drug Abuse, Teenagers, Criminal Behaviour, Nigerian Teenagers, Digital Exposure

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