SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND ITS EFFECT ON USERS' MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUTHS IN AKOKO NORTHEAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT This study examined social media usage and its effect on users' mental health in Nigeria using youths in Akoko Northeast local government area, Ondo State as a case study.The study was specfically set to determine the extent of social media usage among youths in Akoko Northeast, Ondo State, determine whether there is a significant relationship between social media usage and the mental health of youths, and ascertain the effect of social media experience on the mental health of youths. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of youths resident in Akoko Northeast, Ondo State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 200 respondents and 150 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution. While the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation statistical tool, SPSS v23. The result of the findigs reveals that there is a high extent of social media usage among youths in Akoko Northeast LGA., Ondo State. Furthermore, the study also revealed that the use of social media has caused negative influences on mental health like an increase in anxiety,depression, isolation, and low self-esteem.. Therefore the study recommends that the exercise of safe social and balance use of social media should be encouraged among the youths.