Social Media Influence On Youths’ National Identity And Civic Engagement In Southwestern Nigeria

Social Media Influence on Youths’ National Identity and Civic Engagement in Southwestern Nigeria

Oparinde Folasade Odunola^1*, Adeyi Moruf Olugbenga²

¹Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun

²Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti

^*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.909000331

Received: 04 September 2025; Accepted: 12 September 2025; Published: 10 October 2025

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of social media on youths’ national identity and civic engagement in Southwestern Nigeria. The target population originally comprised undergraduates from public universities across three Southwestern states—Oyo, Osun, and Lagos. To strengthen representativeness, the study also considered youths in private universities, polytechnics, and non-student populations such as apprentices and employed youths. Using a descriptive survey design complemented by digital ethnography and exploratory interviews, data were collected from 600 undergraduates in public universities and supported with qualitative insights from other youth groups. The main instrument was a structured questionnaire titled Social Media, National Identity, and Civic Engagement Scale (SMNICES), while interviews and digital content analyses were employed to capture deeper narratives of online identity construction. Descriptive statistics were used to answer research questions, while Pearson correlation and regression analysis were employed to test hypotheses. Findings revealed a high level of social media use among youths, with significant relationships between social media exposure, national identity formation, and civic engagement. Qualitative evidence further illustrated how hashtags, memes, and online debates shaped both unity and division. The study concludes that social media is a powerful tool that must be strategically regulated and integrated into civic education to enhance national unity while recognizing the diversity of youth voices beyond the university setting.

Keywords: Social Media, Youth, National Identity, Civic Engagement, Southwestern Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Social media has grown to be an essential component of modern youth culture, acting as a forum for public discourse as well as a means of self-expression. Young people in Nigeria—whether students in public and private universities, polytechnics, or those outside the formal education system—are among the most frequent users of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (now X), Facebook, and WhatsApp. In addition to providing entertainment, these platforms are effective venues for political mobilization and identity formation (Pew Research Center, 2024). According to studies, social media is now essential to the revision of national identity since it shapes young people’s conceptions of citizenship, unity, and belonging in Africa (Ogunode, Ibrahim, & Alabi, 2025).

Through the dissemination of civic values and common narratives, educational institutions, places of worship, and the media have historically produced national identity. But social media, where stories are quicker, more participatory, and frequently more polarizing, is becoming a bigger threat to these establishments. Research on the #EndSARS movement by Olagunju, Bello, and Yusuf (2024) shows how Twitter/X was used to magnify complaints against perceived governmental injustice, build a common identity, and encourage civic engagement. Importantly, such civic expressions were not limited to public university students but drew in youths from private tertiary institutions and non-student communities, highlighting the need for inclusive studies that reflect Nigeria’s broader youth demographic. This study therefore expands its focus to acknowledge these diverse groups while examining how social media fosters civic duty and national identity in a digital era.

However, it is impossible to ignore social media’s dual character. On the one hand, it promotes civic engagement and national cohesion through online campaigns; on the other hand, it exposes young people to hate speech, fake news, and ethnically charged narratives that undermine unity and trust (Oloruntoba, 2025). Adeyemi (2024) also highlights the dangers of unmanaged digital spaces by cautioning that the dissemination of false information online might polarize communities and erode national cohesiveness. Social media is therefore a two-edged sword that may both promote civic agency and jeopardize communal identity.

In light of these factors, Southwestern Nigeria—a region distinguished by ethnic diversity, vibrant education, and cultural plurality—is the subject of this study. The area offers a crucial perspective for comprehending how youth navigate civic duty and a sense of belonging in a society that is becoming more and more digital. This study experimentally investigates the degree to which social media enhances or diminishes civic engagement and national identity, building on recent findings. It is anticipated that the results would influence digital literacy programs, educational policies, and tactics for increasing young Nigerians’ engagement in democracy.

Conceptual Framework

The study’s conceptual framework demonstrates the presumed connections between the two main variables, civic participation and national identity. Civic engagement, which stands for people’s active involvement in social, political, and communal life, is central to the framework. It is believed that civic involvement is a fundamental factor in nation-building, democratic participation, and communal consciousness.

According to the paradigm below, national identity is positively impacted by civic engagement. People feel more a part of and devoted to their nation when they engage in civic activities including voting, community work, advocacy, and social conversations. National cohesion, unity, and shared values—all crucial elements of national identity—are fostered by this involvement.

Social media use was first thought to be a possible independent variable in the framework because of its growing influence on public opinion and civic engagement. It was removed from the model’s direct links after refining, suggesting that its function may be more indirect or context-dependent rather than essential to the study’s main objective.

The diagram’s arrows indicate the study’s directional assumptions. The study’s main thesis—that significant civic participation is a crucial channel for bolstering national identity—is specifically illustrated by the arrow connecting civic engagement and national identity. The upward arrow from civic involvement also suggests that its advantages might go beyond national identification, impacting more general aspects of society growth and well-being.

All things considered, the framework emphasizes how important civic engagement is as a way for people to help strengthen their sense of national identity. In addition to strengthening democratic institutions, citizens who actively participate in civic life also increase their sense of national cohesion and belonging.

Problem Statement

In modern-day Nigeria, enduring ethnic, regional, and political conflicts are undermining young people’s sense of national identity. Conventional establishments that were formerly crucial in creating a feeling of community, such schools, civic education, and the national media, are progressively losing their impact. Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (X) have taken their position as the main spaces where youth create, discuss, and occasionally challenge their sense of national identity. These platforms offer chances for youth involvement in governance, civic mobilization, and democratic participation, but they also act as conduits for hate speech, disinformation, cyberbullying, and ethnically tinged narratives that divide rather than bring people together.

There are serious questions regarding social media’s true influence on Nigerian adolescents’ civic views and sense of national identity given its paradoxical dual role as a unifying and dividing factor. Recent research indicates that while positive online civic campaigns may increase political participation and social responsibility, extended exposure to contentious online content may promote indifference, cynicism, and disengagement from the ideals of national unity (Adeleke & Akinola, 2022; Musa, 2023). However, there is still a dearth of empirical study that examines these conflicting facts in the Nigerian setting, especially in Southwestern Nigeria, where social media use, high literacy rates, and cultural pluralism all coexist.

Therefore, the question around whether social media enhances or detracts from youth civic involvement and national identity in southwest Nigeria is the issue this study faces. Policymakers and educators run the risk of ignoring the dual function of digital platforms in strengthening democratic ideals or escalating social fragmentation among the upcoming generation of Nigerian leaders if this knowledge gap is not addressed.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study were:

1. to assess the extent of social media use among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.
2. to examine the relationship between social media exposure and national identity formation in Southwestern Nigeria.
3. to determine the influence of social media on civic engagement among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.
4. to analyse whether social media strengthens or weakens youths’ sense of national unity in Southwestern Nigeria.

Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

1. What is the extent of Social Media Use among Nigerian Youths in Southwestern Nigeria?
2. Has social media strengthened or weakened youths’ sense of national unity in Southwestern Nigeria?

Hypotheses

Two null hypotheses were formulated for the study:

H₀₁: There is no significant relationship between social media use and national identity among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.

H₀₂: Social media exposure does not significantly influence civic engagement among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY

The study employed a descriptive survey research design, complemented by qualitative components, to capture the breadth and depth of social media’s influence. The quantitative component targeted undergraduates from public universities across Oyo, Osun, and Lagos States, representing diverse cultural and socio-political backgrounds. From this population, a total of 600 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling, with equal representation of male and female students. The study also incorporated qualitative insights from youths in private universities, polytechnics, and non-student populations (apprentices, employed and unemployed youths). These participants were engaged through purposive sampling to provide contextual depth.

The main instrument for quantitative data collection was a validated questionnaire titled Social Media, National Identity, and Civic Engagement Scale (SMNICES). For the qualitative strand, semi-structured interviews with 20 youths across different categories and digital ethnography of trending hashtags (e.g., #EndSARS, #NigeriaDecides) were conducted. Content validity of the instrument was established through expert review, while internal consistency was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.83. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis, all at the 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data were thematically analysed to provide narratives that enriched statistical findings.

RESULTS

RQ 1: What is the extent of Social Media Use among Nigerian Youths in Southwestern Nigeria?

Table 1: Extent of Social Media Use among Respondents (N=600)

This can also be represented in a bar chart as follows:

The findings from Table 1 and the bar chart figure reveal that WhatsApp (85%) is the most widely used platform among Southwestern youths, reflecting its centrality as an everyday tool for messaging, news updates, and peer interaction. This is followed by Twitter/X (70%) and TikTok (65%), which serve as influential spaces for civic discourse, mobilization, and trend-setting among young people. Instagram (60%) and Facebook (55%), though still significant, appear secondary in shaping youth engagement, particularly with civic and identity-related issues. The pattern suggests that Southwestern youths are heavy multi-platform users, leveraging different platforms for distinct purposes—utility, mobilization, and expression. This trend aligns with broader cross-national evidence, which shows that while WhatsApp and Facebook dominate communication in middle-income contexts, platforms like Twitter/X and TikTok increasingly shape public discourse, political participation, and youth culture worldwide.

RQ 2: Has social media strengthened or weakened youths’ sense of national unity in Southwestern Nigeria?

Table 2: Perceptions of Social Media’s Effect on National Unity (N = 600)

The results in Table 2 and the pie chart show that a majority of respondents (58%) believe social media has weakened national unity, mainly due to the spread of divisive narratives, ethnic bias, and misinformation. However, a significant 42% affirm that social media has strengthened unity, citing its role in facilitating inter-ethnic dialogue, mobilizing youths for collective causes such as the #EndSARS protests, and providing platforms for civic education. This indicates that social media plays a double-edged role—it is more often perceived as weakening national cohesion, but it also offers avenues for fostering solidarity and shared national identity among Nigerian youths.

Hypotheses Testing

H₀₁: There is no significant relationship between social media use and national identity among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.

Table 3: Correlation between Social Media Use, National Identity, and Civic Engagement

The correlation analysis in Table 3 and the heatmap figure reveal meaningful associations between social media use, national identity, and civic engagement among youths in Southwestern Nigeria. A moderate, positive relationship was observed between social media use and national identity (r = .42, p < .05), suggesting that increased involvement in digital platforms is linked to stronger feelings of national belonging and identification. Similarly, the relationship between social media use and civic engagement (r = .51, p < .05) was found to be moderately strong and positive, indicating that active participation on platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter/X, and TikTok is associated with greater youth involvement in civic activities, including advocacy, volunteering, and political mobilization.

Furthermore, the relationship between national identity and civic engagement (r = .48, p < .05) shows that youths who report stronger national identity also tend to demonstrate higher levels of civic engagement, such as voting intentions and participation in community development. Collectively, these findings suggest that social media not only facilitates identity construction but also catalyzes civic participation. This pattern is consistent with recent Nigerian and Global South studies, which emphasize that while Twitter/X often serves as a space for mobilization and activism, WhatsApp functions as a tool for information diffusion and coordination. Thus, the evidence underscores social media’s dual role in both shaping youths’ sense of national identity and enhancing their engagement in civic life.

H₀₂: Social media exposure does not significantly influence civic engagement among Nigerian youths in Southwestern Nigeria.

Table 4: Regression Analysis of Social Media Use on Civic Engagement

R² = 0.41, F(2, 597) = 27.34, p < 0.05

The regression analysis identified social media use (β = .44, p < .001) and national identity (β = .39, p < .001) as significant predictors of civic engagement among youths in Southwestern Nigeria. The model demonstrated a good fit, with an R² value of .41, indicating that these two factors together accounted for 41% of the variance in civic engagement. This represents a substantial explanatory power within the context of social-behavioural research, where complex human actions are often shaped by multiple overlapping influences. This can further be represented in a regression model diagram (with arrows from Social Media Use and National Identity pointing to Civic Engagement, showing β values and R²) as shown below:

In line with evidence from #EndSARS scholarship and more recent studies of Gen-Z participation in Nigeria, which consistently demonstrate that online mobilization and identity-driven narratives can translate into tangible civic action, this finding implies that, beyond demographic characteristics, youths’ online exposure and their level of national identification play a robust role in shaping their offline civic behaviors. In other words, digital practices and identity salience significantly influence whether young people engage in activities like volunteering, advocacy, protest participation, or voting intention.

The qualitative evidence enriched the survey results in several important ways:

• Identity Construction: Interviewees from polytechnics and apprenticeships emphasized that WhatsApp and TikTok offered platforms for cultural expression and solidarity. For example, apprentices described WhatsApp groups as “alternative classrooms” where civic knowledge circulated, while university students highlighted Twitter/X as a space for amplifying national debates.
• Civic Engagement Beyond Universities: The survey showed significant links between social media and civic engagement, but the interviews revealed how this happens: youths used memes, satirical skits, and hashtags to critique government actions and mobilize peers. Non-student youths noted that even without formal civic education, digital participation gave them a sense of belonging to the national community.
• Double-Edged Dynamics: Ethnographic observations revealed that the same hashtags (#EndSARS, #NigeriaDecides) fostered unity across groups but also carried divisive threads. For example, while many posts expressed collective identity (“We are Nigerians standing together”), others circulated ethnically charged or partisan content that undermined cohesion.

By integrating interviews and digital ethnography, the study moves beyond measuring correlations to illuminate lived realities and digital cultures. This provides a more holistic understanding of social media as both a civic resource and a source of fragmentation among Nigerian youths.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The findings from this study reaffirm that social media has become a powerful mobilizing force among Nigerian youths. While quantitative results highlighted significant positive relationships between social media use, civic engagement (r = .51), and national identity (r = .42), the qualitative evidence revealed how youths outside public universities experienced similar dynamics. Interviews with apprentices and polytechnic students, for example, highlighted that WhatsApp groups often serve as spaces for communal solidarity and mobilization, while Twitter/X threads provide a sense of national belonging or, at times, disillusionment. The high levels of usage, particularly across WhatsApp (85%), Twitter/X (70%), and TikTok (65%), mirror national and cross-national trends reported by the Pew Research Center (2024) and the Reuters Institute (2022). These sources confirm that WhatsApp and Facebook dominate everyday communication in middle-income settings, while Twitter/X and TikTok are increasingly salient for news access, activism, and trend participation. In Nigeria, high social media penetration also coincides with heightened exposure to misinformation, which helps explain the mixed perceptions of social media’s role in national unity documented in this study.

The correlational and regression results strengthen the argument that social media serves as a mobilizing structure for youths in Southwestern Nigeria. The significant positive relationship between social media use and civic engagement (r = .51; β = .44) underscores how online activity facilitates information flows, framing, and resource coordination that nudge young people from digital interaction to offline participation. Rigorous analyses of the #EndSARS protests illustrate how Twitter/X acted as the organizational backbone for protest logistics, donations, and agenda setting (Olagunju et al., 2024; Ogunode et al., 2025). More recent work on Gen-Z civic participation in Nigeria further supports this pathway, emphasizing that social media has effectively bridged the gap between awareness, mobilization, and concrete civic action.

Similarly, the link between social media use and national identity (r = .42) highlights its role in fostering shared narratives, cultural celebration, and collective memory, which strengthen a sense of “Nigerianness” among many youths. Yet, this finding must be understood alongside evidence that identity formation online can also polarize. Studies confirm that misinformation, fake news, and ethnically charged content on platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok often reproduce echo chambers, reinforce negative out-group perceptions, and escalate tensions (Adeyemi, 2024; Oloruntoba, 2025). Thus, while social media can consolidate national identity through inclusive campaigns and celebratory content, it can equally fragment it by fueling disinformation cascades and ethnic bias.

When combined, these results support the idea that social media is a “double-edged sword” that both exposes users to false information and divisive narratives and strengthens civic life by giving young people a platform for activism, leadership, and conversation (Reuters Institute, 2022; Oloruntoba, 2025). The necessity of strategic actions that strike a balance between opportunity and regulation is made evident by this contradiction. Integrating digital citizenship and media literacy into civic education is a crucial and practical move, as social media use and national identification together account for a significant portion (41%) of civic involvement. These findings are clearly addressed in the World Bank’s policy notes from 2025, which suggest that Nigeria implement digital literacy frameworks that are compatible with UNESCO. Such an approach would help maximize the unifying potential of social media while curbing its risks, ensuring that digital platforms become engines of youth empowerment, national cohesion, and democratic development.

The ethnographic observations also underscored the symbolic power of hashtags, memes, and viral videos in shaping collective narratives. For instance, during #EndSARS, youths from both academic and non-academic backgrounds reported feeling part of a shared national struggle despite differences in schooling or class. However, divisive rhetoric on ethnicity and politics also circulated, confirming that social media can simultaneously consolidate and fragment identity (Adeyemi, 2024; Oloruntoba, 2025).

By integrating diverse youth voices, this study shows that social media’s influence is not restricted to the university environment but extends to everyday Nigerian life. Thus, civic education and policy interventions must address the realities of both students and non-students to fully harness digital spaces for democratic consolidation.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that social media plays a pivotal role in shaping youths’ national identity and civic engagement in Southwestern Nigeria. It functions as a powerful tool for awareness creation, civic participation, and mobilization, enabling young people to voice concerns, challenge authorities, and collaborate on national issues. At the same time, it also presents serious concerns, such as the dissemination of false information, content that is ethnically offensive, and narratives that jeopardize national unity. The results highlight social media’s dual nature: although it gives young people the ability to engage more fully in civic life and enhances their feeling of community, if it is not adequately controlled or governed, it can also exacerbate polarization. This necessitates a purposeful policy response that supports civic education, ethical online conduct, and digital literacy that is adapted to the circumstances of Nigeria’s youth. In order to turn the digital sphere into a forum for unification, national advancement, and democratic consolidation, it will be essential to balance social media’s good potential with its risks.

LIMITATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

One limitation of this study is that while the quantitative data focused primarily on undergraduates in public universities, private university students, polytechnic students, and non-student youths were included mainly through qualitative approaches. This may affect the representativeness of the broader sample, but it provides rich comparative perspectives. Future studies should adopt a full mixed-method design with proportional sampling across all youth categories to enhance generalizability.

Based on the findings, it is recommended that:

• Government and NGOs integrate social media literacy into civic education curricula for both in-school and out-of-school youths.
• Civic campaigns target diverse youth groups, ensuring inclusion of apprentices, polytechnic students, and unemployed young people.
• Policymakers and digital platforms collaborate to curb divisive content while amplifying narratives that foster national unity.
• Researchers continue combining quantitative and qualitative methods, especially digital ethnography, to better capture the evolving dynamics of online civic life.

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