THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS IN ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AKUNGBA-AKOKO

This study was conducted on the effeets of social media on interpersonal relationships among students in Adckunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko. Ondo state,Nigeria.Social media and interpersonal relationships were treated as factors which are interrelated especially in the study location which suited subject of the research. The study was anchored on symbolic interactionism theory as this provides guide for the researcher to deconstruct social media and social interaction variables appropriately for understanding.Research design was employed. The main finding showed tha social media usage is common among students in Adekunle Ajasin University. The research findings reveal a nuanced landscape of the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships among students at Adckunle Ajasin University.One prominent discovery is the considerable influence of social media on face-to-face interactions. Most respondents acknowedged that social media platforms often act as a mediator in their offline relationships.impacting the quality and frequeney of in-person communication. Based on the study's findings, it was recommended that educational institutions should integratedigital literacy programs into the curriculum to empower students with the skills to critically engage with social media: universities should initiate awareness campaigns highlighting the potential impact of social media on mental health, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships; educators should adopt a balanced approach to the integration of technology in educatiom,leveraging the benefits of social media for collaborative learning while emphasizing the importance of face-to-face interactions for holistic personal development.