THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of social media on interpersonal communication. A research was carried out on the inhabitants of Oredo local government area. The study was set to address four research objectives. The study was anchored the media equation theory. In this study, a survey research design was adopted, the population comprises of the inhabitants of oredo local government area, Benin City, Edo state, a stratified sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents for the study and a questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. As result of the field study and analysis of results, the findings revealed that social media has both negative and positive impact on interpersonal communication. The study recommends that individuals need to be taught on the controlled usage of social media so as not to rely heavily on them, Government at all levels should encourage the positive use of social media among people, individuals should learn not to rely only on social media platforms for interactions and communication between one another, people should also endeavor to build and sustain good relationships with others physically even as they meet new people online.Social media has had a profound impact on interpersonal communication, changing the way people interact with one another on a daily basis. This research paper will explore the positive and negative effects of social media on interpersonal communication, looking at how it has affected the way people form and maintain relationships, the ways in which social media has influenced communication styles, and the impact of social media on the development of social skills. It will also consider the ethical implications of social media, and how it can be used to manipulate or influence people. The research will also look at the future of social media and its potential impact on interpersonal communication.