Project – Influence of Social Media Communities on Interpersonal Relationships among Urban Youths. A Study of Selected Youths in Lekki, Lagos

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The emergence of social media has significantly transformed the ways in which young people communicate, establish relationships, maintain friendships and participate in social life. Unlike traditional forms of communication, social media platforms allow users to interact across geographical boundaries through text, images, audio, video and other forms of digital content. Platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and X have therefore become important spaces for social interaction among young people. Social media use among adolescents and young adults is particularly significant because social interaction and identity development are central features of this stage of life. Senekal et al. (2023) explain that social media has become an important environment in which young people’s psychosocial development takes place, although its effects are complex and can differ according to patterns of use and individual circumstances. Similarly, Valkenburg et al. (2022) note that social media use encompasses active and passive forms of engagement and that the consequences of such engagement cannot be understood simply by measuring the amount of time spent online.

Social media communities constitute an important dimension of this transformation because users do not merely consume content but also participate in groups and networks organised around friendships, interests, entertainment, education, religion, professional activities and other shared identities. These communities can provide opportunities for young people to communicate frequently, exchange information, seek emotional support and develop a sense of belonging. Zhou and Cheng (2022), in a systematic review and meta-analysis, found evidence that social support obtained through social networking sites can be associated with adolescents’ psychological well-being, although the nature and quality of online interaction remain important considerations. In the Nigerian context, Ajayi and Adinlewa (2020) examined social media use and micro-level social capital among University of Ibadan students and focused on the capacity of social networking sites to support bonding, bridging and maintenance of existing relationships. These findings indicate that social media communities can function as extensions of young people’s social networks rather than simply as entertainment spaces.

The influence of social media communities on interpersonal relationships can also be understood through the opportunities they create for maintaining relationships that might otherwise weaken because of physical distance or limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction. Young people can use online communities to remain in contact with friends and relatives, organise social activities, provide encouragement and communicate during periods when physical interaction is difficult. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, social media became an important means of maintaining social connection when movement and physical interaction were restricted. Udenze and Uzochukwu (2021), studying young adults’ experiences with TikTok during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, found that social media served as a source of engagement and solace for young people experiencing isolation. Similarly, Chukwuma (2016) found that social media was used by residents in South-East Nigeria to create and maintain relationships. Such evidence suggests that online communities can complement physical relationships by providing additional channels through which young people communicate and sustain social connections.

Evidence from Nigeria also demonstrates a direct connection between social media use and interpersonal relationships among young people. Onwunali et al. (2020), in a study of undergraduate students at the University of Lagos, examined the uses and influence of social media on interpersonal relationships. The study reported that respondents used social networking platforms to maintain contact with existing friends and to make new friends, while a majority perceived social media as having a positive influence on their interpersonal relationships. This finding is particularly relevant because the study was conducted within Lagos and provides empirical evidence that social media can influence how young people establish and maintain social relationships within the Nigerian urban environment. However, the study focused on university undergraduates, making it necessary to investigate the issue further among youths in specific urban communities such as Lekki, where patterns of social interaction and digital engagement may differ.

Despite these potential benefits, social media communities may also introduce challenges to interpersonal relationships. Online communication can involve misunderstandings because users may not have access to facial expressions, tone of voice and other contextual cues available in face-to-face interaction. Social media may also expose users to social comparison, jealousy, exclusion, cyberbullying and conflicts arising from posts, comments, photographs or online interactions. Alade (2017), in a Nigerian study of undergraduates at Redeemer’s University, examined Instagram use, Instagram-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes among young adults in romantic relationships. The study specifically investigated whether conflict associated with Instagram use could help explain negative outcomes in intimate relationships. This suggests that the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships are not exclusively positive and that the nature of interaction within online communities may determine whether social media strengthens or strains personal relationships.

Another important consideration is the distinction between active and passive social media engagement. Active participation may involve posting, commenting, direct messaging and interacting with friends, whereas passive use may involve continuously scrolling through other people’s content without meaningful interaction. These different forms of use may have different implications for interpersonal experiences. Shannon et al. (2022), in a systematic review and meta-analysis involving adolescents and young adults, found significant associations between problematic social media use and depression, anxiety and stress. More recently, Bankole and Dickson (2026), studying Nigerian young adults aged 18–25, reported a significant negative association between passive social media consumption and self-esteem, with upward social comparison partly explaining the relationship. Although these findings concern psychological outcomes rather than interpersonal relationships directly, they demonstrate why the quality, intensity and purpose of social media participation should be considered when examining its influence on young people’s social lives.

The urban environment provides an especially important setting for examining social media communities and interpersonal relationships because urban youths often experience highly connected social environments involving schools, workplaces, businesses, entertainment, friendship networks and digital communities. Lekki, Lagos, provides a relevant context for such an investigation because it is an urban area in which young people interact across physical and digital spaces. Research involving young Nigerians has already demonstrated that social media occupies an important position in communication and meaning-making. Akingbade (2021), for example, examined young adults in Lagos and found that social media was central to their engagement with public-health information and to their interpretation and communication of messages. This demonstrates the broader role of social media in shaping interaction and communication among young Nigerians. At the same time, Ajewole et al. (2025), in a study of undergraduates in Nigeria, found that although many respondents were more comfortable expressing themselves online, frequent social media communication could also enhance confidence in initiating offline conversations, suggesting that online interaction may sometimes complement rather than replace face-to-face communication.

Against this background, the present study focuses on the influence of social media communities on interpersonal relationships among urban youths, with particular reference to selected youths in Lekki, Lagos. The study is necessary because social media communities can simultaneously provide opportunities for friendship formation, communication, social support and relationship maintenance while also creating circumstances that may contribute to misunderstanding, reduced face-to-face interaction, social comparison and interpersonal conflict. Existing Nigerian studies have examined social media and relationships among university students and other young people, but there remains a need for evidence specifically focused on youths within an urban community such as Lekki. The study will therefore examine patterns of social media-community participation, the ways such communities influence friendships and other interpersonal relationships, the positive and negative relationship outcomes associated with participation, and the factors that may determine whether online communities strengthen or weaken interpersonal connections.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The rapid expansion of social media has created new opportunities for young people to communicate and participate in communities beyond the boundaries of physical location. Young people can now maintain friendships, meet new people, participate in interest-based groups and communicate continuously through social networking platforms. However, the increasing integration of online communities into everyday social life has raised questions about the quality of interpersonal relationships among youths. While some studies indicate that social media can support relationship maintenance and social capital, other evidence suggests that problematic or inappropriate use may be associated with psychological and relational difficulties (Ajayi & Adinlewa, 2020; Shannon et al., 2022). The coexistence of these outcomes creates a need to examine how social media communities actually influence interpersonal relationships among urban youths.

A second problem concerns the possibility that increased online interaction may alter the nature of face-to-face relationships. Social media enables young people to communicate frequently without being physically present, but extensive online interaction may also compete with time spent in direct interpersonal encounters. The consequences are not necessarily uniform because social media can sometimes complement offline communication. Ajewole et al. (2025), for instance, found that frequent social media communication among Nigerian undergraduates could enhance confidence in initiating offline conversations, even though some respondents experienced challenges involving aspects of non-verbal communication. Therefore, the problem is not simply whether youths use social media, but how participation in social media communities affects the quality, frequency and nature of their interpersonal interactions.

A further problem is the emergence of interpersonal conflicts associated with social media activities. Online comments, photographs, relationship status updates, private messages, public interactions and perceived attention to other users can become sources of misunderstanding between friends and romantic partners. Alade (2017) specifically examined Instagram-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes among Nigerian young adults, demonstrating the relevance of social media-related conflict to interpersonal relationships. At the same time, passive social media consumption and social comparison may influence how young people perceive themselves and others, potentially affecting their confidence and social interactions (Bankole & Dickson, 2026). These concerns make it necessary to investigate both the beneficial and problematic dimensions of social media communities rather than assuming that online interaction either automatically improves or damages relationships.

The specific problem addressed by this study is therefore the limited empirical understanding of how participation in social media communities influences interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos. Although previous Nigerian research has established that social media is used by young people to maintain relationships and that it can influence interpersonal interaction, much of the available evidence has focused on university students or other specific populations and locations. Onwunali et al. (2020), for example, examined University of Lagos undergraduates, while Chukwuma (2016) investigated relationship use of social media in South-East Nigeria. There is consequently a need for a geographically focused study of youths in Lekki to determine how social media communities affect friendship formation, communication, relationship maintenance, face-to-face interaction and interpersonal conflict. This study seeks to provide such evidence.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

General Objective

The general objective of this study is to examine the influence of social media communities on interpersonal relationships among urban youths in selected areas of Lekki, Lagos.

Specific Objectives

The study specifically seeks to:

1. Examine the extent to which urban youths in Lekki participate in social media communities.
2. Assess the influence of social media communities on the formation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos.
3. Determine the influence of social media communities on face-to-face communication and interpersonal interaction among youths in Lekki, Lagos.
4. Examine the major challenges associated with social media community participation and interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. To what extent do urban youths in Lekki participate in social media communities?
2. How do social media communities influence the formation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos?
3. To what extent do social media communities influence face-to-face communication and interpersonal interaction among youths in Lekki, Lagos?
4. What are the major challenges associated with social media community participation and interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: Social media communities have no significant influence on interpersonal relationships among youths in Lekki, Lagos.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be significant to urban youths because it will provide greater understanding of how participation in social media communities can affect their interpersonal relationships. The findings may help youths recognise both the opportunities and challenges associated with online social interaction, particularly with respect to friendship formation, communication, social support, face-to-face interaction and interpersonal conflict.

The study will also be useful to parents and guardians. Parents increasingly have to understand how young people’s online social environments affect their relationships and everyday behaviour. The findings may provide information that can support constructive conversations with youths about responsible social media participation without assuming that all online interaction is harmful.

The study will be significant to educators, counsellors and social workers because it will provide evidence concerning the relationship between online communities and interpersonal interaction among youths. Such evidence may assist professionals in developing appropriate digital-communication education, relationship counselling and social-skills programmes for young people.

The study will also benefit social media users and community administrators. Understanding the relationship between online participation and interpersonal outcomes may encourage healthier forms of communication within social media communities. It may also draw attention to problems such as cyberbullying, online conflict, exclusion, excessive comparison and inappropriate communication.

The study will be relevant to researchers and academics in sociology, psychology, communication studies, social work, youth studies and related disciplines. Existing Nigerian research has examined social media use and social capital, interpersonal relationships and face-to-face communication, but the present study will contribute additional evidence from an urban youth population in Lekki, Lagos (Ajayi & Adinlewa, 2020; Onwunali et al., 2020; Ajewole et al., 2025).

Finally, the study may be useful to policymakers and organisations concerned with youth development and digital literacy. Evidence about how young people experience social media communities and interpersonal relationships may assist in developing programmes that promote responsible digital citizenship, healthy communication and constructive use of social networking platforms.

1.7 Scope of the Study

Content Scope

The study focuses on the influence of social media communities on interpersonal relationships among urban youths. Specifically, it will examine:

• participation in social media communities;
• frequency and patterns of social media interaction;
• formation of friendships and social connections;
• maintenance of existing relationships;
• face-to-face communication;
• interpersonal communication;
• social support;
• interpersonal conflict; and
• challenges associated with social media community participation.

The study will consider commonly used social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and X, depending on their relevance to the respondents.

Geographical Scope

The study is geographically limited to selected communities within Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria. The specific communities will be determined by the researcher based on the sampling procedure and accessibility of the study population.

Population Scope

The study will focus on urban youths residing in the selected communities in Lekki. For the purpose of the study, youths will refer to young people within the age range adopted by the researcher and consistent with the approved institutional definition for the research.

Thematic Scope

The study is concerned primarily with the relationship between social media community participation and interpersonal relationships. It does not attempt to examine every possible consequence of social media use, such as academic performance, political participation, employment or general mental health, except where such issues are directly relevant to interpersonal relationships.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Social Media

Social media refers to digital platforms that allow users to create, share, receive and interact with content and communicate with other users through online networks.

Social Media Communities

Social media communities refer to groups or networks formed on social networking platforms around shared friendships, interests, activities, identities, beliefs or other common connections, where members communicate and interact digitally.

Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal relationships refer to social and emotional connections between individuals, including friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, peer relationships and other forms of personal association.

Urban Youths

Urban youths refer to young people living within an urban environment and participating in the social, economic and technological activities characteristic of that environment.

Social Media Participation

Social media participation refers to the extent to which individuals use, contribute to and interact within social media communities through activities such as posting, commenting, messaging, sharing, liking and viewing content.

Online Interaction

Online interaction refers to communication and social engagement between individuals through internet-based platforms and applications.

Face-to-Face Communication

Face-to-face communication refers to direct interpersonal communication in which individuals interact physically in the same location and can use verbal and non-verbal communication cues.

Social Support

Social support refers to emotional, informational or practical assistance obtained from other people. In this study, it includes support that youths receive through social media communities and interpersonal networks.

Interpersonal Conflict

Interpersonal conflict refers to disagreement, misunderstanding, tension or disputes occurring between individuals as a result of their interactions.

Relationship Maintenance

Relationship maintenance refers to communication and behaviours undertaken to preserve, strengthen or sustain an existing interpersonal relationship.

Relationship Formation

Relationship formation refers to the process through which individuals establish new interpersonal connections, friendships or other forms of social relationships.

Influence

Influence refers to the extent to which participation in social media communities is associated with changes in the formation, maintenance, quality or nature of interpersonal relationships among the youths studied.

Project – Influence of Social Media Communities on Interpersonal Relationships among Urban Youths. A Study of Selected Youths in Lekki, Lagos