Rational Decision and Influence of Facebook in “Get Rich Quick Syndrome” and Ritual Killings among Youth in Nigeria

Rational Decision and Influence of Facebook in “Get Rich Quick Syndrome” and Ritual Killings among Youth in Nigeria

Ayoola Olalekan Ajasa, Oladipo Arowa, Ade Inas- Thomas, Yetunde Omolola Aisida

Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.7012002

Received: 11 November 2023; Accepted: 23 November 2023; Published: 26 December 2023

ABSTRACT

Well-meaning Nigerian are concerned about the motivations underlying the pursuit of wealth at all costs, which has emerged as a contemporary social crisis. Social media has been connected to this irrational culture of instant wealth among young people. This study examined the influence of Facebook on the get-rich-quick mentality and ritual killings among youth in Nigeria. It used a survey research approach and a sample size of 366 respondents was derived using the sample size calculation and power analysis formula from a population of 202,725 (NPC, 2006).  Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and linear regression. The results (β= .123, t= 31.118, p<0.05) showed that among other social media platforms, Facebook plays a role in the drive of the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among youth. The study concluded that Facebook influenced the drive for get-rich-quick syndrome among young people in the city of Ibadan.

Keywords: Incursion, youth, money ritual, material wealth, decision making

INTRODUCTION

The get rich quick syndrome, especially among young people, has recently filled the media—both print and electronic—as well as the internet—with reports of missing individuals and ritual killings. According to Usman (2017), social media cannot be divorced from the get-rich-quick mentality and ritual killings because it continues to be a channel for spreading various ideologies among as many young people as possible. Social networking undoubtedly has benefits and drawbacks. Contrary to what their creators intended, some young people use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, Tik Tok, and other communication applications for these impure arts (Habeeb et al, 2019). It’s difficult for many people to imagine that a social media post, comment, response, or even a like may cause someone to pass away.  Although social media does not cause murder or bodily harm to occur, it does give individuals with malicious or prospective malicious intent increased access to their targets.

Smartinsights.com (2022) reported the following growth in US social network users: Tik Tok’s usage went from 18.3% to 87.1%, Reddit’s from 14.4% to 25.9%, LinkedIn’s from 4.2% to 6.2%, Instagram’s from 3.7% to 6.2, Snapchart’s from 2.6% to 4.0%, Twitter’s from 0.2% to 4.0%, and Facebook’s from 0.8% to 3.35%. Backlinko.com (2022) also, captured the social media statistics as follows:  2,895 billion Facebook users, 2,291 billion YouTube users, 2,000 billion WhatApp users, and Instagram users stood at 1,386 billion. Social media will certainly be used for negative reasons more as its user base grows (Smith, 2018).

In sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and some European countries, the practice of ritual sacrifices and the belief in supernatural powers are two fundamental phenomena that date back to ancient times. These cultures believed that personal success and accomplishments might be achieved through the intervention of a magical power (or powers), and sometimes for the purification of the land or to appease the gods. According to Obileye and George (2021), the majority of Africans, especially Nigerians, believe that charms and amulets can shield them from bad luck such as accidents, illnesses and infections, stillbirths, and death when they are wrapped around the body or hanging in their homes and cars. It took some kind of animal and human sacrifice to gain access to this.

In addition, people think that magical potions made of odd ingredients and ceremonial sacrifices will grant them prosperity, fame, and power (Habeeb et al. 2019). Ritual sacrifices are so regularly performed in a variety of settings and using a range of resources in order to accomplish these ends. Ritual sacrifices are carried out to promote or encourage financial prosperity. These sacrifices are known as money or wealth rituals, or, better yet, get-rich-quick mentality. The temptation to become wealthy by any means is great for youths and young adults in a society where materialism and unequal wealth distribution are the norm and the dignity of labor is put to the side. The global economic meltdown and politicians’ and wealthy people’s questionable character displays of wealth also contribute to this temptation.

The pursuit of wealth and luxury has resulted in an uptick in crime and a disrespect for law and order in society, with the number of kidnappings and ritual killings of persons for ransom rising everyday. Usman (2017) supported this claim by pointing out additional human body parts that are utilized in money ceremonies. In an interview with individuals found in possession of human body parts, he claimed that human genitalia, female breasts, the head, tongue, heart, and bones produce potent results in money rituals. Additionally, several human groups with specific (genetic) anomalies are considered suitable for monetary ceremonial sacrifices, including albinos, dwarfs, and hunchbacks (Brilliant, 2015; Nkrumah, 2018). Due to this, countless Nigerians of all ages, both male and female, have been killed and had their bodies severed for ritualistic rituals (Usman, 2017).

The love of money, according to the Bible, is the source of all evil and the impetus behind all demonic deeds. Money is useful and can help with a variety of issues, but the rate at which young people are engaging in criminal activity with the blatant audacity to profit from it raises serious social issues. Every day between the end of December 2021 and the beginning of January 2022, videos of ritual killings were posted on social and traditional media. Bodies have occasionally been discovered with portions missing. For instance, the horrible murder of Favour Daily-Oladele by her fictitious boyfriend, Owolabi Adeeko, was allegedly committed on January 19, 2022, according to The Sun newspaper. It is unfathomable and a validation of the biblical adage “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) that a professed boyfriend would plot and carry out the murder of his own girlfriend. Also, in the case of Sofiat Kehinde, whose head was severed and burned for money in the Oke Aregba Area of Ogun State by her former and present boyfriends Mustakeem Balogun and Soliu Majekodun, the boys claimed they wanted to perform the ritual after seeing the steps on Facebook; Oladehinde and Abdulgafar Lukeman were also detained in addition to the two (Published by Daily Post, Ishola Oludare, March 14, 2022). Some blamed the rise on poverty, poor parenting, unemployment, and lousy government, but these suspects’ confessional comments pointed to the influence of social media on the get-rich-quick syndrome among the youth.

Given the available statistics and the rise in criminality among the youth, this study investigated rational decision and influence of Facebook in “get rich quick syndrome” and ritual killings among youth in Nigeria.

Statement of the Problem

All well-meaning Nigerians and government officials at all levels are gravely concerned about the recent rise in this evil deed. Killings for money rituals have been on the rise. Although various causes have been discovered based on the literature that is now available, these reasons are not entirely novel, but one is concerned that the get-rich-quick syndrome is becoming more prevalent and widespread across the nation. Facebook appears to be one of the elements contributing to this chronic epidemic of ritual killings and the get-rich-quick mentality. Facebook is a powerful tool for disseminating all kinds of information to a sizable audience, which may or may not have an impact on the audience.  One of the elements thought to be behind the persistence and extensive spread of the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings is most likely social networking. As a result, this study aimed at objectively exploring the role of Facebook in the “get rich quick syndrome” and ritual killings among the youth within Ibadan metropolis, Oyo state.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study were to find out the role of Facebook on the drive in get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youths, investigate whether social media provides information on get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings for Nigerian youths and determine whether Facebook affects Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich-quickly syndrome and ritual killings.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Incursion of Social Media

Unwittingly, social media has integrated itself into every aspect of our daily lives. It serves as a meeting place for people of all ages and genders, regardless of their physical proximity or location. Social networks, as defined by Anderson (2009), are networked tools that enable individuals to connect, engage, and share ideas, objects, and interests with one another. Simply said, social networks make it easier to form groups and experiment with novel ways of congregating and accomplishing tasks (Shirky, 2011).

Selwyn (2021) defines “Social media” as the software that enables users to communicate and engage with one another, as well as to create, modify, and share new types of textual, visual, and audio information as well as to categorize, label, and suggest pre-existing types of content. It is also used as a communication medium that is widely used, very quick, and broad. It has shown to be incredibly effective, and billions of people trust it to help them share and find stuff about people, brands, information, entertainment, and know-how (Dearborn, 2014). All of these definitions share the common idea that social media incorporates some sort of online interpersonal interactions.

With the help of social media, it is now simple to disseminate information, a necessary component for human survival and meaningful interpersonal interaction. People converse with one another through it to share, educate, persuade, impact relationships, and learn and uncover knowledge. utilizing social media web sites have become very widespread and common among today’s youth and young adults; Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, gaming sites, and blogs are common platforms for the youths (Akanni, 2014).

Due to the accessibility and affordability of smartphones, social media usage has skyrocketed. In fact, a 2015 study found that 22% of all internet time was spent on social networks, indicating the popularity of these platforms. It is believed that the ubiquitous everyday use of cellphones is to blame for the rise in social media popularity (Agbonifo, Afolayan & Akinola, 2021). The fastest-growing web application in the twenty-first century is thought to be social media, and technological development is supporting this rapid growth (Nguyen, 2022). It has provided immense benefits to mankind and continues to do so. As a result, its significance for communication cannot be understated.

With the advent of mobile phones that support social network applications, social media has taken on a new dimension and increased engagement. Mobile social networking refers to the use of mobile devices with Android-based applications for social networking. According to Humphreys (2007), in his study titled “Mobile Social Networks and Social Practices,” social networking applications have moved from computers to mobile phones, allowing for the integration of network information and communication into public spaces. These new services created for mobile phones also enable users to establish, grow, and strengthen their social ties.

Quest for Material Wealth among Nigerians Youths

When a vice is tolerated and everyone acts as if nothing is wrong, it will fester and eventually become accepted in society. Little to no action was taken by the government and society as a whole when youth began engaging in internet fraud. In Uyo and Benin, associations of parents of Yahoo boys and Yahoo Academy were eventually created. This gave the boys the guts to go up to “yahoo-yahoo-plus” (Adding rituals to internet fraud).

Undoubtedly, the decline in societal values, the unbridled desire for quick wealth without equivalent labor, and parents’ scant attention to the sudden prosperity enjoyed by some youths have all greatly aided in the development of an army of young killers who are prepared to do whatever it takes to hide their tracks and avoid detection while engaging in their nefarious trade, particularly Internet fraud (The Sun, Jan.19, 2022). Parents, religious leaders, the political elite, and in fact the entire society must all take responsibility for failing to stop the rot when it was still in its infancy in order to stop the threat from taking the nation by surprise. As concerns continue to mount over the rising cases of ritual killings in the country, some are of the view that restoration of family values has a major role to play in bringing back sanity.

This school of thought attributes part of the causes of the threat to the loss of moral, societal norms, and standards, including the rejection of the revered and value systems that most cultures and traditions recognized.

According to Ojowu et al. (2017), among other issues, Nigeria’s socioeconomic woes are manifest in multifaceted poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Numerous studies have been done on Nigeria’s socioeconomic problems and their effects. The wave of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and their impact are widely reported in the literature. Studies and reports have demonstrated that a significant number of Nigerians live below the poverty threshold, do not have access to drinking water, medical, and health care facilities, and find it challenging to survive. For instance, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports have consistently revealed that poverty in Nigeria is growing at an alarming rate. The number of people who cannot afford the basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing is roughly half of the entire population (NBS Reports, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017).

Recently, Gertz and Kharas (2018) reported that the World Poverty level increased, also reported that 87 million Nigerians, or around half of the country’s population, live in extreme poverty and that the number of Nigerians falling into abject poverty grows approximately by six people every minute (This particular report indicates that Nigeria tops the list of the world’s poorest nations, despite her enormous human and natural resources and poverty alleviation and intervention programs.

As a result, finding employment has become challenging for recent graduates. Additionally, it might be difficult for people to put their newly gained entrepreneurial and vocational talents to use and make a living (Oriku, 2021). The different real and potential drivers of a decent life (including work, education, skills and abilities, and others) seem to have lost relevance in Nigeria in recent years (Salihu, 2019). Because many Nigerians had to learn this lesson the hard way, they now do everything it takes to provide for their basic needs, including food. To satisfy these requirements, many people engage in dishonest and illegal acts (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 2016). Nigerians’ quest for wealth and material possessions: Nigeria is one of the societies where a high value is placed on money, real estate, and pleasures; excessive wealth accumulation is rampant, and the source of the acquisition is frequently unimportant (Obo, Uka & William., 2014). In Nigeria, excessive desire for wealth and property is a societal syndrome that affects people of all cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic classes. According to Iheriohanma (2009), wealth accumulation has become a norm in Nigeria, and young people are unwittingly being socialized in this way.

An average Nigerian (young, adult, educated, and illiterate) now obsesses over money and living a luxurious lifestyle because of their great desire for wealth (Bisong & Ekanem, 2014). A typical Nigerian schoolboy’s goals are to acquire a private plane, the newest cars, a fancy home, and to flash money at public events (Adama, 2018). In addition, society still expects people to be successful and wealthy despite the high rates of poverty and unemployment in the nation. For example, parents and other family members frequently assume and expect that their younger children, who frequently lack a steady source of income, will help them escape poverty or meet their basic necessities (Iheriohanma, 2009).

Nigerians youth now engage in all kinds of strange and illegal activities to get rich. The end results can be seen in the massive misappropriation of public funds and the unfathomable illicit enrichment of public officials (Obo & Coker, 2014); the rise in fraud, theft, and other shady behavior among employees in the public and private sectors (Issah et al., 2016); and various depravities, including Advance Fee Fraud, also known as 419, the Yahoo-Yahoo internet scam, and armed robbery (Smith, 2001; Salihu, 2019). Get-rich-quick syndrome and other societal issues that young and old Nigerians face today are surely fueled by an obsessive desire for cash (Bisong & Ekanem, 2014).

Empirical Studies

Several scholars have worked incredibly hard to investigate the causes of the rise in ritual killings, kidnappings, and other vices among young people not just in Nigeria but throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria is one of the top African nations for human trafficking, according to the United Nations organization for Education, Science, and Culture (UNESCO). Human traffickers participated in this crime around the end of the 20th century to provide people for prostitution, begging, domestic servitude, and other forms of underpaid and exploited labor. However, human trafficking took on a new facet in the twenty-first century. Girls and young women are enlisted into “baby factories” on the false pretense that they will have safe employment or access to abortions. Thus, they are confined to the so-called baby factories and forced to give birth for sale. Some of the victims are impregnated by men specifically employed for such purposes. Men hired for this reason purposely impregnate some of the victims. Following this, the infants are sold for domestic or international adoptions, rituals, slave labour, or sexual exploitation.

The study on magical beliefs and associated sacred practices undertaken by Habeeb, Monsurat, and Isiaka (2019) offered an explanation in the attempt to better understand this threat. According to the authors, the rise in murders committed for ritualistic purposes in Nigeria’s Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State can be attributed to those who accept human body parts as sacrifices in exchange for good fortune, along with poverty, unemployment, and the desire for wealth. According to the report, the rise in deaths linked to money rituals in the Ilorin Emirate is due to several factors, including the widespread idea that ritual sacrifices improve fortunes, Nigerians’ insatiable desire for material gain, unemployment, and poverty.

Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome and the Incidence of Human Rituals Among South-West Nigerian Youths: A Sociological Analysis of Associated Factors was another study by Enaikele, Adeleke, and Adeoye (2022) that did an explorative and dialectical analysis, probing and opening up the reality of motivated human killings for money ritual among the Yoruba youths, in the course of their struggle for survival and to escape poverty in the face of limited economic opportunities, The study also looked into the variables that might have contributed to these young people’s excessive drive to amass unexpected money and riches. The study came to the conclusion that youths’ current extreme desire to become wealthy quickly is influenced by a number of factors, including unemployment, peer pressure, poor parenting, Nollywood and online videos, economic deprivation, and unequal wealth distribution, which are marked by marginalization, limited opportunities, and social exclusion of the youth who commit crimes. The failure to consider the potential impact of Facebook on the Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome and Human Rituals killings among Nigerian Youths, which this study intends to analyze, was a significant gap in the literature of some of the empirical studies studied.

METHODOLOGY

The research design appropriate for this study is the descriptive design. The study adopted survey as the research method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on influence of Facebook in “get rich quick syndrome” and ritual killings among young people in Nigeria. The questionnaire was developed based on the objectives of the study. The study population comprised of the entire residents of Oluyole LGA which stood at 202,725 people. (National Population Census, 2006). A sample population of the study was statistically determined using the sample size calculation and power analysis formula. The respondents were randomly selected within ward 2 (Podo and Orita Challenge) and ward 10 (Odo-Ona) of the Oluyole local government. The choice of these wards is arguably believed to house some of the yahoo boys. The frequency distribution table and simple percentages were used and linear regression was used to test the hypotheses.

n =       Z² Pq/ d²

This formula can be used where the population size is greater than 10, 000 (>10,000)

Where,

n = Desired sample size (where population is > 10,000)

z = The standard deviation usually set at 1.96 since a significant level of 95% is desired.

P = The proportion in the target population estimated to have a particular characteristics understudy.

q = Iop (that is the proportion of the population that does not share the characteristics under study).

d = degree of accuracy desired set at 0.05 level.

thus;

z = 1.96 level of significance = 50%

p = 50% = 0.50

q = (I-P) = 0.5

d = (0.05)2

            Z² Pq/d²

(1.96²) (0.50) (0.5) /  0.05²

= 3. 8416 x 0.50 x 0.5 / 0.0025

= 0.9604 / 0.0025

n = 385

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 385 (Three hundred and eighty-five) copies of the questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study were distributed. The instrument recorded 95% percent return rate with retrieval and validation of 366 copies, while 13 copies were not retrieved and 6 copies were invalid.

Research Question 1: What is the role of Facebook as a social medium on the driven in get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youth?

Table 1 Role of Facebook as a social medium on the drive of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youth.

KEY: SA= Decision Rule if mean is < 1.49 Neutral; 1.5 to 2.49=Strongly Disagree; 2.5 to 3.49= Disagree; 3.5 to 4.49= Agree; 4.5 to 5= Strongly Agree

In Table 1, shows that respondents averagely agreed that Facebook plays a major role as a social medium on the drive of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youth with a mean weighted average of =4.20 and standard deviation of 0.95.

Research Question 2: To what extent do Nigerian youths make use of Facebook which has resulted to the motivation of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings in them?

Table 2 Nigerian youths make use of Facebook which has resulted to the motivation of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings in them.

Table 2 summarily shows that participants agreed that Nigerian youths make use of Facebook which has resulted to the motivation of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings in them ( = 3.83) and SD (1.03).

Research Question 3: Does social media affect Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings?

Table 3 Social media sites influences youths decision making ability

Table 3 confirms that participants agreed that social media affect Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings ( =3.91) and (SD=0.99).

Test of Hypotheses

Decision Rule

The pre-set level of significance for this study is 0.05. The null hypothesis assumes that there is no significant relationship between the dependent variables and independent variables under study. The p-value indicates the significance value. The statistical decision rule for this study goes thus: if the probability value (p-value) exceeds the pre-set level of significance (p>0.05), the null hypothesis will be accepted but if the p-value is less than or equal to 0.05 (p≤0.05), the stated null hypothesis will not be accepted.

H₀1:  Social media does not significantly influence Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings.

Table 4a ANOVA & Model Summary for the Test of Significant Influence of social media affect Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings

R=  0.285

R Square = 0.081

Adjusted R Square = 0.078

Table 4.3.1a indicates the ANOVA and model summary statistics for the test of significant social media on the driven in get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youth

Table 4b Linear Regression Testing Significant social media affect Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings

Dependent Variable: Youth Rational Decision

Table 4 shows that Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings with p. value at (β= .123, t= 31.118, p<0.05). This suggests that social media affect Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings. Therefore, given the p. value (.000), the hypothesis that Social media does not significantly influence Nigerian youths’ ability to make rational decisions on get-rich quickly syndrome and ritual killings was rejected.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The survey’s findings confirm Facebook’s influence on Nigerian youth’s drive toward the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings. This assertion was summarized using data from Table 1 with mean average (x = 4.20) and standard deviation (0.95). Given the number of children and young adults using the Facebook network, the outcome is not surprising. This is consistent with Anderson’s (2009) perspective, which defines social networks as networked technologies that enable individuals to connect, engage, and share ideas, objects, and interests with one another. The study thus supports the idea that social networks like Facebook enable group formation and the discovery of novel means of gathering and completing tasks, thereby assisting young people in connecting and exchanging knowledge about quick money.

In relation to its function in the spread of the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among Nigerian youth, all the metrics examined to determine if Facebook is a regular social medium utilized by the targeted respondents show that the respondents frequently use Facebook. For instance, the respondents concurred that young people browse Facebook on average once every minute (x = 4.82). Everyone who took part in the discussion agreed that Facebook is one of the social media platforms that allows young people access to information that can encourage ritual killings and the get-rich-quick mentality (x = 4.30).

In the same line, additional data from the table reveals that respondents generally concurred that Facebook is one of the social media platforms that fosters unhealthy relationships among young people and has the potential to promote ritual killings and the get-rich-quick syndrome (x = 4.01); Facebook is one of the social media platforms that exposes young people to get-rich-quick schemes and ritual killings (x =3.99). Facebook is also one of the platforms that encourages deception of all kinds via various forms of release, which has led to heavy killings in society, with the average number of deaths standing at (x =3.92). Although the study suggests that young people use social media for a number of immoral and criminal activities, this is at odds with the investors’ intention, which was captured by Akanni (2018). Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube were designed primarily for people to communicate with one another in order to share, inform, persuade, influence relationships, and discover and uncover information.

According to the study’s findings, among other social media sites, Facebook is where Nigerian youngsters acquire the inspiration for ritual killings and the get-rich-quick syndrome. Participants generally agreed, as shown in Table 2, that Nigerian teenagers utilize Facebook, which has led to their motivation for the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings (x = 3.83, SD) (1.03). Given that Facebook is an open platform where people with dubious morals flaunt their money without restraint, young people who use it frequently end up being unwitting consumers of these unhealthy goods. The study by Enaikele, Adeleke, and Adeoye (2022) determined that the current excessive desperation of young people to become wealthy quickly is influenced by unemployment, online and Nollywood videos, peer pressure, poor parenting, and changes in societal value systems, economic deprivation, and inequality in wealth distribution marked by marginalization, limited opportunities, and social exclusion.

According to Table 2’s results, participants generally agreed that Nigerian teenagers use Facebook, which has led to their motivation for ritual killings and the get-rich-quick syndrome (x = 3.83; SD = 1.03). Nigerian adolescents regularly use Facebook as a social media platform (x = 4.09). One of the social media websites that young people frequent on a regular basis is Facebook (x = 3.82). Participants, however, disagreed that young people utilize Facebook sites monthly, seasonally, and occasionally (x = 3.46, respectively, and (x = 3.41), suggesting that young people cannot do anything for more than a day without using social media. This serves to support Heyam’s (2014) assertion that social media is the web application with the greatest rate of growth in the twenty-first century and that this rapid growth is supported by technological advancements.

The study found that social media had an impact on Nigerian teenagers’ capacity to make logical decisions about ritual killings and the get-rich-quick syndrome (x = 3.91; SD = 0.99). Respondents who gave Facebook a mean score of x = 3.98 agreed that it affects young people’s decision-making in terms of the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings. Participants further assert that Facebook increases young people’s desire and informs them of the risks and dangers of getting involved in get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killing, with mean averages of (x =3.93) and (x =4.09, respectively). In the same vein, participants indicate that Facebook encourages young people from engaging in get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killing through their releases (x =3.91). However, with (x =3.68) respondents, it was acknowledged that Facebook diverts some young people’s attention from ritual killings and the get-rich-quick syndrome. Additionally, Table 4 demonstrates how Nigerian youths’ capacity for rational decision-making with regard to the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings, with a p. value at (=.123, t= 31.118, p0.05), indicating that social media may have an impact on youths’ capacity for rational decision-making with regard to the syndrome and killings. Given the p value (.000), it was determined that social media does not significantly affect young Nigerians’ capacity to make logical decisions about the get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

From the available statistics and discussions, this study hereby concludes that Facebook as a social medium play a role in the drive of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings among young people. However, it is important to note that the platform itself does not kill but it provides deadly pieces of information that can be used by its users for killings. Besides, the results of the findings of the study established that young people make use of Facebook which results to the motivation of get-rich-quick syndrome and ritual killings in them. This can further be ascribed to excessiveness in their usage of social media, therefore, exposing them to all kinds of information that is capable of affecting their mode of reasoning and motivate them to do what has been seen or read.

The study therefore, recommend that appropriate control in form of policies, terms and conditions should be given to social media channels as to control what to allow and disallow.  In addition, parents should endeavour at all times to ensure that more attention is given to their wards to prevent them from being victims of other people’s wrong opinions on the social media and should give their wards standing rules to help control how they make use of social media on daily basis.

REFERENCES

1. Adama, J. T. (2018). The craze for wealth among Nigerians. Retrieved October 27, 2018, from http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2015/09/02/the-crazefor-wealth-among-nigerians/
2. Agbonifo, O. C., Afolayan A. H., & Akinola, O .H. (2021). Design of a mobile smartphone anti-theft system. Nigerian Journal of Technology 40 (6), 1086-1095.
3. Akanni, O. E. (2018). An Analysis of The Influence Of Social Media Sites On Nigerian. International Policy Brief Series-Education & Science Journal 4(1) 34-46. www.internationalpolicybrief.org ISSN Print: 2315-8425, Online 2354-1660
4. Anderson, J. R. (2009). Cognitive Psychology and Its Implications (7th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.
5. Bisong, P. B., Ekanem, S. A. (2014). The contemporary Nigerian summum bonum and its effect on the economy. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy, 15(1), 57-61.
6. Brilliant, M. H. (2015). Albinism in Africa: A medical and social emergency. International Health, 7(4), 223–225. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihv039
7. Dearborn, E., (2014). My official definition of social media. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929215745-47165795.
8. Enaikele, M. D., Adeleke, T. A., & Adeoye, R.A. (2022). Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome and the Incidence of Human Rituals among South-West Nigerian Youths: A Sociological Analysis of Associated Factors. KIU Journal of Humanities, 7 (3). September 2022 / Articles
9. Gertz, G., & Kharas, H. (2018). Leave No Country Behind: Ending Poverty In The Toughest Places. Retrieved 3rd January 2018 from https://www.brookings.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2018/02/leave-no-country behind_globalworking-paper.pdf
10. Habeeb, A. S, Monsurat I. & Isiaka A. (2019). The Growing Phenomenon of Money Ritual– Motivated Killings in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation Into the Factors Responsible. UKL Journal of Social Sciences 3(2) 32-44
11. Humphreys, L., (2007). Mobile Social Networks and Social Practices. A case study of Dodgeball. Journal of computer and mediated communication, 13. DOI: 10.1111/J.1083-6101.2007.00399.x.
12. Iheriohanma, E. B. J. (2009). Socio-structural pressures and the challenges of survival and crime committal in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 21(3), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718923.2009.11892767
13. Issaah, E., Abubakari, A., Wuptiga, J. (2016). State of academic facilities and its influence on Teachers job stress in Tamale Polytechnic. African Journal od Business Management 10(2): 24-31.
14. National Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Labor Force Statistics Vol. 1: Unemployment and Underemployment Report. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved 14th November 2018 from https://africacheck.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/q1q3_2017_unemployment_report_VOLUME_1-1.pdf
15. Nguyen, L. (2022). Design and Implementation of Web Application Based on MVC Laravel Architecture. European Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. 6(4), 1-7
16. Nkrumah, B. (2018). Hunted like animals: The conundrums of countering crimes against albinistic persons in the era of the UDHR. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 55, 52-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2018.09.002.
17. Obileye, A.A., George, K. (2021). Trend of Kidnapping and Hostage Taking in 21st  Century Nigeria: Reflective Discourse. Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur. CJSMS 6 (1) P.144-163.
18.  Obo, U. B. & Coker, M. A. (2014). The Marxist theory of the State: An introductory guide. Meditererranean Journal of Social Sciences 5 (4), 527.
19. Ojowu, O., Bulus, H., & Omonona, B. (2017). Nigeria poverty assessment. Abuja: World Bank.
20. Oriaku, C.C. (2021). Business Management: Challenges & Prospects of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research in Accounting, Economics and Business Perspectives. IJARAEBP 5, (1), 74-82.
21. Salihu, H. A. (2019). Whistleblowing Policy and Anti-Corruption Struggle in Nigeria: An Overview. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies: AJCJS, Vol.12, No.1
22. Selwyn, N. (2021). Digital technology and the futures of education- towards ‘non-stupid’ optimism. Background Paper for the future of Education initiative. (ed.) UNESCO. 2021. www.UNESCO.ORG.
23. Shirky, C. (2011). The Political Power of Social Media. Foreign Affairs, 90 (1), 28-41.
24. Smith, D. J. (2001). Ritual killing, 419, and fast wealth: Inequality and the popular imagination in southeastern Nigeria.
25. Smith, D. J. (2018). Kidnapping for Rituals: Article of Faith and Insecurity in Nigeria, Africology
26. Usman, E. (2017). Why killing for rituals are on the increase in Nigeria. Retrieved May 27, 2018, from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/killings-ritualsincrease-nigeria/
27. https://www.smartinsights.com (2022)
28. https://www.statista.com/outlook/technology-outlook (2022)
29. https://backlinko.com