INVESTIGATING THE PERFORMANCE OF IDENTITY THROUGH LANGUAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AMONG YOUTHS IN KANO STATE

Social media is not just a place to deliver and receive messages, but a space for practical actions that construct and produce individual characteristics in the process of identity building. The study aimed at determining investigating the performance of identity through language on social media platforms among youth in Kano state. The data for this study was primary data and secondary data. The primary was sourced from questionnaire which was conducted among B.A English students of Northwest University. The secondary data consisted of data, journals and other publications. Percentages will be calculated to determine the proportion of students exhibiting social media platforms relative to the total number of respondents. It was found that social media and the youth’s identity appeared to be closely related to each other. Therefore, the statistical analysis of the questionnaire survey and the analysis of the qualitative research through the focus group interviews showed similar results. Moreover, it was found further deep and broad characteristics of the social media users. The youth’s social media behaviour was dependent on their social conditions, cultural environments, personal attitudes, and situations. It is therefore recommended that lecturers should come up with a template on how their students can maximize the benefits of Social media. Also school management should incorporate rules and regulations on the use of the social media in the school and the government should put in place adequate control measures to regulate their use among students and lecturers. Students should be educated on the influence of Social media on their academic performance.