RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND SEX ADDICTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT IN ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA- AKOKO, ONDO STATE.

This study investigated the relationship between social media use and sex addiction among undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State. The rise of social media integration into daily life, particularly among youths, prompted an examination of its potential role in fostering compulsive sexual behaviours. The study was guided by four specific objectives: to examine the patterns of social media use, assess the prevalence of sex addiction, investigate the relationship between the two variables, and determine the influence of demographic factors. A quantitative research design was adopted, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 120 students selected through simple random sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) The findings revealed an intensive pattern of social media use, with 100% of respondents using it daily and a vast majority (91.7%) spending more than three hours daily on these platforms. Furthermore, 81.7% reported often accessing social media late at night. Regarding sex addiction, a significant prevalence was observed: 63.3% had used social media to access sexual content, 60.8% frequently thought about sexual content encountered online, and 55.0% reported that their online sexual activities had negatively affected their social relationships. The study established a strong link between the variables, with 86.7% of respondents frequently encountering sexualized content on social media and 65.8% acknowledging that their social media use had influenced their sexual thoughts or behaviours. The hypothesis test confirmed a statistically significant relationship (χ² = 185.429, p = .000), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concludes that there is a significant positive relationship between the intensity of social media use and the propensity for sex addiction among undergraduates. It recommends that the university management integrates digital wellness modules into orientation programs and that the counselling centre develops targeted interventions to address this emerging behavioural health concern.