Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014

SOCIAL MEDIA AND CHANGING COMMUNICATION PATTERNS AMONG STUDENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF TWITTER USE BY UNIVERSITY OF JOS STUDENTS

Samuel OLANIRAN University of Jos,

Abstract: The developments in Internet technology have seen a rapid rise and change in information flow in contemporary society. One such significant development is the popularity of social network sites, an innovation that is redefining the process of sharing mediated messages. Twitter, an online social networking and micro blogging service that enables users to send and read "tweets", has over 500 million users who send over 400 million tweets daily, with nearly 60% of tweets sent from mobile devices. Regarded as ―the SMS of the Internet‖ and one of the ten most visited websites, its users tweet about any topic within the 140-character limit and follow others. The paper set out to study the topological characteristics of Twitter, its power as a new medium of information sharing and social convergence, and dimensions of usage by students of the University of Jos. Anchored on the Uses and Gratifications theory, data was collated from the field through questionnaire. Results show that the medium represents both a social forum and a news outlet to the students. Based on this, it was recommended that users should endeavour to verify messages or tweets and sources before sharing with others.

Keywords: Twitter, Social Media, Social Networking Sites (SNSs), Tweet, Internet, Students

INTRODUCTION socialization or information The invention of the internet seeking and has become something brought a new dimension to the much more. With this development, media landscape. It marked the users are driving content beginning of technological (Dominick, 2013) in ways never transformation and socialization seen before. This has led to the with a higher desire for information transformation in not just one about everything. This slowly medium; there is more to come as developed into social media, which new trends emerge continually. essentially is information about Shapiro, cited in Croteau and people. Hoynes (2003, p. 322) argues that The internet has taken the process the ―emergence of new, digital of information dissemination to a technologies signals a potentially higher platform thereby going radical shift of who is in control of beyond being a mere medium of information, experience and

40 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 resources.‖ Crosbie (2002), in as media designed to be explaining new media, described disseminated through social three different kinds of interaction, created using highly communication media. He saw accessible and scalable publishing interpersonal media as ―one to techniques. It uses internet and one‖, mass media as ―one to many‖ web-based technologies to and new media as ―individuation transform broadcast media media‖ or ―many to many‖. New monologues (one to many) into media is a term meant to social media dialogues (many to encompass the emergence of many). digital, computerized or networked According to Adelabu (2011), three information and communication components typify social media: technologies in the later part of the th concept (art, information, or 20 century. Most technologies meme); media (physical, electronic, described as ―new media‖ often or verbal); and social interface have characteristics of being (intimate, direct, social viral, manipulated, networkable, dense, electronic broadcast or syndication compressible, interactive and or print). One of the things that impartial (Flew, 2008). Neuman, make social media unique is its cited in Croteau and Hoynes (2003) interactive capabilities. Like never adds that new media will alter the before, social media are meaning of geographic distance transforming the way in which thereby allowing for a huge people receive and share increase in the volume and speed of information. Ludtke, as cited in communication. It will also provide Adelabu (2011, p. 614) notes, ―One opportunities for interactive of the major attributes to social communication and allow forms of networking is its high level of communication, previously interactivity‖ which adds value separate, to overlap and through its ability to facilitate interconnect. meaningful conversation with, and Social media, an offspring of new between users. Picard also cited in media, typify these features as they Adelabu (2011, p. 614) asserts that have eliminated geographical social media and blogs provide an distance in global communication opportunity for users to express (Carley, cited in Flew, 2002). themselves and connect with like- Information sharing or interaction minded people: moves at the speed of light thereby These digital tools making it near impossible to provide an easy (little to quantify volume of communication no cost) way for that occurs at different locations members of the public to simultaneously. Kaplan and take part in discussion Haenlein (2010) sees social media with larger groups of 41 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014

people and draw and highlight the challenges related attention to issues and to accessing it.

topics that traditional RESEARCH QUESTIONS news media might have This paper shall be guided by the overlooked.... following questions: The high rate of social networking 1. Why do students use Twitter? sites, and the impact they have on 2. How do students access young people‘s lives, offers Twitter? striking testimony to the global 3. What is the most engaging impact of today‘s Internet. Some activity of students on Twitter? treat this new medium as a danger, and others treat it as the road to LITERATURE REVIEW utopia. The truth is somewhere in Uses of Social Media: between. As a communication platform, In view of the seeming students‘ many people use the Internet with activeness on Facebook, its various applications such as Blackberry Messenger, WhatsApp social media like Facebook, etc, it became imperative to Twitter, YouTube, etc to mobilise understand what Twitter was used people to support a cause. for and the dynamics of such usage. According to Skoler, cited in In addition, the research was borne Adelabu (2011, p. 614): out of an observation from Today‘s new culture is audience participation in some about connection and programmes on the Campus FM relationship. Social (UNIJOS 96.1 ICE FM) that only a networks are humming fraction of the students use Twitter because they fit the spirit compared to responses generated of the time, not because from using other platforms. This they created the spirit of study will therefore engage sharing. They‘re not students of the University of Jos in about listening to others a focus group-like discussion and and responding. They‘re responses would contribute to about pursuing our framing the study. interests because we know they will converge This paper is therefore primed to with the interests of study the topographical others. The new culture characteristics of Twitter and its values sharing power as a new medium of information and being information. The study is also surprised by the expected to determine the experiences, knowledge, dimensions of Twitter usage by the and voices of others. students of the University of Jos

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The forces propelling this new be dragged off the internet today. trend are internet technology and They use the Internet regularly and youth who use social media to anywhere (Ibrahim, Odoemelam, force changes in all facets of and Elechi, 2011). Oyero adds that human interactions. Kaplan and the availability of mobile and Haenlein, cited in Adelabu (2011), portable devices that allows them describe social media as a group of to connect to the Internet anywhere, internet-based applications that as long as they are connected to build on the ideological and data services, has increased social technological foundations and media use. Live feeds and instant allow the creation and exchange of streaming, and an increasing user-generated content. It supports number of access through smart the democratisation of knowledge phones, modems, wireless, 3G and information, ―transforming networks, etc have equally pushed people from content consumers into up usage of social media by content producers‖ (Stassen, cited students. in Adelabu, 2011, p. 614). Millions of people go to websites to With the introduction of the watch television shows, read internet as a new media newspapers, download music, and environment and opportunity, the do so many things that Turow rate at which social ties that go (2010, p. 132) describes as having beyond geographical and cultural ―traditionally been associated with boundaries are created is quite separating non-computer media alarming. One of the current social forms‖. Social media have networks that connect people revolutionalized the nature of through the internet is Twitter - a communication and dismantled free-access website that allows its previously existing man made users to join networks, connect, and obstacles to information interact with other people. With the dissemination and sharing. It has growing popularity of social proved to be a tremendous platform networking sites (SNSs), one can to reach large number of people only begin to imagine the rapidly across different demographic and increasing population of the economic strata faster and cheaper internet as a way to communicate compared to the use of other media with others around the world of mass communication (Adelabu, (Turow, 2010; Udejinta, 2011). 2011; Oboh and Kasule, 2011).

Oyero (2013) contends that A lot of information, including text, presently, a large majority of audio and video, is available university students, who a few twenty-four hours a day, seven years back were unlikely to have days a week, to connected users of heard of the internet, cannot easily the Internet. The latter is easier,

43 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 faster, and more convenient as a Stone in 2006, users access Twitter source of information. Dominick through the website interface, SMS, (2005, p. 310) argues that the social or mobile device apps. It is now implication of the Internet and of one of the ten most visited social networking is that ―it websites, and has been described as supplements the function of ―the SMS of the Internet‖. As of traditional mass media‖. The rape September 2013, the company's case in data showed that 500 million users (ABSU), Nigeria, the 2013 ASUU send over 400 million tweets daily, strike, and the ALUU killings are with nearly 60% of tweets sent some of the numerous instances from mobile devices (Moore, where people racked up posts and 2013). articles on blogs describing the Features of Twitter: ordeal and taking steps to seek Tweets: palliative measures (Oyero, 2013). Tweets are messages sent out over Twitter, like other social the Twitter network. They are networking sites, has become an publicly visible by default, but important place where youths senders can restrict message invest their time and search for delivery to followers only. Users entertainment, knowledge, can tweet via the Twitter website, meaning, identity, and friendship. compatible external applications Boyd (2007, p. 2) explains that (such as for smart phones), or by social networks give young people Short Message Service (SMS) a sense of community and access: available in certain countries ―Youths are trying to map out a including Nigeria (Drew, 2012). public youth territory for While the service is free, accessing themselves, removed from the adult it through SMS may incur phone culture. They are doing so online service provider fees. Users may because their mobility and control subscribe to other users' tweets – over physical space is heavily this is known as following and curtailed and monitored.‖ subscribers are known as followers (Eric, 2011) or tweeps, a THE EMERGENCE OF TWITTER portmanteau of Twitter and peeps Twitter is an online social (Brandon, 2012). The users can networking and micro blogging also check the people who are service that enables users to send unsubscribing them on Twitter and read "tweets", which are text (unfollowing) via various services messages limited to 140 characters. (Douglas, 2012). In addition, users Registered users can read and post have the capability to block those tweets but unregistered users can who have followed them. Also, only read them. Created by Jack users are allowed to update their Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Biz profile via their mobile phone

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Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 either by text messaging or by apps content-hosting services, such as released for certain smart phones Twitpic, memozu.com and and tablets. NotePub to accommodate As a social network, Twitter multimedia content and text longer revolves around the principle of than 140 characters. followers. When you choose to Trending Topics: follow another Twitter user, his/her A word, phrase, or topic that is tweets appear in reverse tagged at a greater rate than other chronological order on your main tags is said to be a trending topic. Twitter page. If you follow 20 Trending topics become popular people, you will see a mix of tweets either through a concerted effort by scrolling down the page: breakfast- users, or because of an event that cereal updates, interesting new prompts people to talk about one links, news alerts, music (audio and specific topic (Balanarayan, 2009). video) recommendations, These topics help Twitter and their vacancies, scholarships, celebrity users to understand what is shows, educational and business happening in the world. seminars/workshops, eBook links, even musings on the future of Trending topics are sometimes the education, etc. result of concerted efforts and

Format: manipulations by preteen and Users can group posts together by teenaged fans of certain celebrities, topic or type by use of hashtags – breaking events or cultural words or phrases prefixed with a phenomena, particularly musicians. "#" sign. Similarly, the "@" sign There have been controversies followed by a username is used for surrounding Twitter trending mentioning or replying to other topics: Twitter has censored users (Fred, 2007). To repost a hashtags that other users found message from another user and offensive. share it with one's own followers, Mobile: ―RT‖ symbolizes the retweet The mobile version of Twitter, function in the message. m.Twitter.com, has a couple of The tweets were set to a largely mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, constrictive 140-character limit for Android, Windows Phone and compatibility with SMS messaging, BlackBerry. There is also a version introducing the shorthand notation of the website for mobile devices, and slang commonly used in SMS SMS, and MMS services. messages. The 140-character limit Interface: has also increased the usage of On April 30, 2009, Twitter adjusted URL shortening services such as its web interface, adding a search bit.ly, goo.gl, and tr.im, and bar and a sidebar of "trending

45 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 topics" — the most common with additional comments. phrases appearing in messages. Biz Retweets are marked with either Stone, Twitter co-founder, explains ―RT‖ followed by ‗@user id‘ or that all messages are instantly ―via @user id‖. Retweet is an indexed and that "with this newly effective means to relay the launched feature, Twitter has information beyond adjacent become something unexpectedly neighbours. When a user retweets, important – a discovery engine for the user may or may not retweet finding out what is happening right evenly from those whom he/she now" (Biz, 2009). follows. This is also an influence of

Research has shown that there are homophily. From the perspective of couple of influencers that affect a user who is retweeted, the retweet how people use Twitter. These also may or may not take place evenly can be said to have a huge effect on among one‘s followers. The temporal behavioural pattern and evenness of information diffusion, user participation. Some of them or favouritism, in retweet is include singleton, reply, mention, determined by the level of disparity noticeable in retweets. retweet, and homophily. Homophily is a tendency that ―a Retweet is considered the feature contact between similar people that has made Twitter a new occurs at a higher rate than among medium of information dissimilar people‖ (McPherson, dissemination. People often write a Smith-Lovin, and Cook, 2001, p. tweet addressing a specific user. 415). A user will interact more with Such a tweet is called a mention. another user who shares perceived Both replies and mentions include similarity in the type of people ‗@‘ followed by the addressed followed and, tweets made. Weng, user‘s Twitter ID. If a tweet has no Lim, Jiang and He (2010) have reply or a retweet, then it is a reported that two users who follow singleton (Kwak, Lee, Park, and reciprocally share topical interests. Moon, 2010). These influencers Homophily is investigated in two define a user‘s level of activeness contexts: geographic location and and the direction to which it tilts. popularity. This explains the similarity in the ‗following‘ list of a BRIEF HISTORY OF THE group of students. UNIVERSITY OF JOS The University of Jos began as a A tweet can be just a statement campus of the made by a user, or could be a reply in November 1971 with its first set to another tweet, or a retweet, of students admitted in January which refers to a common practice 1972 as pre-degree students. The in Twitter to copy someone else‘s first Bachelor of Arts degree tweet as one‘s own, sometimes programme began in October 1973

46 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 but in 1975 the General Murtala Africa, English-speaking countries. Mohammed led military This earned it a Peason Vue government established the Testing Centre, which allows it to University of Jos as a separate administer certificate licensure institution. examination for all professionals.

The University has undergone The University‘s pharmacy enormous development and programme is currently rated the structural changes, rising to best nationally and its Law Faculty, become one of the top second the third best in the country (Obateru, 2013). generation Universities in the country. It has grown from an THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK initial single campus and four Ohaja (2003, pp. 63-64) argues faculties to having three campuses that, ―knowledge does not exist in a and nine faculties, and a School of vacuum. In every discipline, there Postgraduate Studies with over is a body of theories that provide 40,000 students (University of Jos the explanation for observable School of Postgraduate Studies, phenomena in that field.‖ This is 2010-2014). The institution is the reason this discourse is known for its modest achievements anchored on the Uses and in research findings on Artemisia Gratifications theory. annua – the plant with the active Uses and Gratification Theory bio molecules required for According to Katz, Blumer and combination drug therapy Gurevitch (1974), Uses and formulation for malaria treatment. Gratifications theory establishes a Similarly, it made some phase in mass media research breakthrough in the area of anti- challenging the traditional focus of snake venom research and medical what the media do to the audience microbiology for detecting the to what the audience do with the mutation in the gene responsible media. It further focuses on why for fluconazole resistance in the audience use the media and the Candiaisis. It is also known for the purposes for which it is used formulation of tablets and (Baran and Davis, 2009). The discovery of the value of theory holds that people have mushroom in the management of preconceived needs, which they sleeping sickness disease bring to the communication (Trypanosomiasis). process. Expatiating on the theory, The University of Jos emerged as McQuail (2010, p. 423) states that the only University in Nigeria ―the central question posed is: why suitable for Instructor Training do people use the media, and what Centre (ITC) and CISCO Academic do they use them for?‖ The theory Support for West and Central has been identified as a ―model of

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communication research which The theory is applicable to studies seeks to explain issues on the basis where the audience is free to of the audience‘s subjective choose what to use based on an account of the media experiences anticipated benefit from the content and the functions a particular kind of a medium. Its suitability to this of content serves in particular discourse springs from the fact that circumstances‖ (Orewere, 2006, p. the students at the University of Jos 17). use Twitter largely because of the The theory is approached from the specific satisfaction they derive view that, for the audience, the (news content, academic research mass media are a resource that is and social interaction). Similarly, drawn upon to satisfy needs. The Zafar (2010, p. 515) contends that theory has an image of the audience ―Uses and Gratifications theory ‗in control‖ rationally using the suggests that media users play an media to achieve its own ends. The active role in choosing and using theory recognizes and maintains the media.‖ In an effort to further that the audience has various needs elaborate on what the theory that prompt them to expose entails, Folarin (2002, p. 72) argues themselves to any media or media that, ―...instead of asking; ―what content. Therefore, the theory kinds of effects occur under what establishes that there are distinct conditions?‖ The question became benefits a consumer expects to get ―who uses …which media under from any medium and failure to which conditions and for what deliver these expectations will lead reasons?‖ The theory is relevant to to the audience deserting such this study as the research looks into medium. Twitter has become a why and how students of supplement to audience access to University of Jos use Twitter. information, entertainment, and METHOD enlightenment. With tweets from The study used the descriptive subscribed websites, blogs, survey, which according to individuals, celebrities, etc, Wimmer and Dominick (2006, p. information savvy people satisfy 179), attempts to describe or their needs with the support of what document current conditions or the mainstream media provide. attitudes, that is, to explain what Gratification is even better exists now. The results allow achieved with the mobile researchers to examine the notification activation on Twitter, a interrelationships among variables function that allows a user get all and to develop explanatory tweets on his/her Twitter account inferences. direct on his mobile phone as text message at no cost through a free Survey research was adopted short code 40404. because it enables realistic 48 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 enquiries into media-audience just before a respondent clicks to relationships in terms of their submit the completed copy. disposition or attitude to research Without an active Twitter account, problems. Questionnaire was used a potential respondent cannot as the instrument of data collection, upload his or her response, as the while 200 respondents were drawn indication is the key to uploading from the population (students of the responses. The questionnaire University of Jos, Nigeria) using was uploaded on the purposive sampling technique. http//www.surveyface.com/study/T In the same manner, the witter-Use-Questionnaire-8871.php questionnaire was purposively and the link shared via Facebook, administered to respondents with Twitter and text messages to valid Twitter accounts through respondents who visited and electronic (online survey) and face- completed the survey form. to-face means. A purposive sample This combination was necessitated is chosen with the knowledge that it by an industrial action embarked is not representative of the general upon by the Academic Staff Union population but is frequently used in of Universities (ASUU) leading to mass media studies when a shutdown of academic activities researchers select respondents who in the University of Jos. Due to the use a specific medium and are difficulty encountered in contacting asked specific questions about that the population midway in the medium. Thus, the sampling research, the online survey was technique was employed to ensure used to support the face-to-face only students who use Twitter were distribution. However, this does not selected and studied. The undermine the substance of the researcher therefore freely chose research. In total, 150 copies of the sample size for the study for questionnaire were retrieved – 60 time and convenience. from the electronic distribution and One hundred and ten (110) copies 90 from face to face administration. of questionnaire were distributed Analysis was thus based on 150 through face-to-face and 90 copies retrieved, which also through electronic means. The represents a 75 percent response researcher inquired before rate. administering the questionnaire in To validate the instrument, media person. The online survey was experts were consulted, who designed such that the question on assisted in vetting the research whether a respondent had a valid items that were used. account was placed at the end of the questionnaire (on the last page)

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Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014

RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Table 1 – Respondents’ Age Response Frequency Percentage 18 – 20 4 2.6% 21 – 23 48 32% 24 – 26 74 49.33% 26 and above 24 16% Total 150 100

Table 1 shows the percentage distribution of respondents‘ age. The data indicate that majority of the respondents were within the 24 and 26 age bracket hence, 49.33%. This age range, representing almost one-half of the population, is more active on Twitter as it is with other social networking sites. Thus, they are capable of making reasonable use and judgment on use of Twitter by students. Please, note that all tables are from the author‘s fieldwork.

Table 2 – Sex of Respondents Response Frequency Percentage Male 82 54.67% Female 68 45.33% Total 150 100

Table 2 shows the sex percentage distribution of respondents‘. The data indicate that majority of the respondents are males.

Table 3 – Respondents’ Student Status Response Frequency Percentage Undergraduate 116 77.37% Postgraduate 34 22.67% Total 150 100

Table 3 shows the percentage distribution of respondents‘ student status. Undergraduate students were 77.37% of the population while 22.67% of the respondents were Postgraduate students. This shows that undergraduate students have embraced the internet and Twitter and are using it more consistently.

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Table 4 – Faculty of Respondents’ Response Frequency Percentage Arts 82 54.67% Education 2 1.33% Environmental Sciences 0 0% Law 8 5.33% Medical Sciences 12 8% Management Sciences 10 6.67% Natural Sciences 14 9.33% Pharmaceutical Sciences 2 1.33% Social Sciences 20 13.33% Total 150 100

The information on the Table 4 indicated that the bulk of the respondents were from the Arts and Social Science fields which explained why Twitter is used for informational and social communication needs.

Table 5 - Why do students use Twitter?

S/N ITEM SA A N D SD X DECISION 1. Registration on Twitter is 17 62 39 27 5 3.4 Accepted easier and less cumbersome than other social networking sites. 2. Accessing user account is not 10 23 51 45 21 2.7 Rejected faster. 3. Social relationships are easily 27 56 37 25 5 3.5 Accepted formed and maintained. 4. Interaction with research 13 23 19 54 41 2.4 Rejected institutes, celebrities, religious leaders, politicians and friends is not enhanced on the Twitter platform. 5. It is an alternative channel for 17 44 39 37 13 3.1 Accepted academic research. 6. Private information, activities 59 51 27 13 0 4.0 Accepted and experiences are shared in picture and text. 7. Users do not get quicker 7 21 23 60 39 2.3 Rejected access to news content and share frequently than on other sites.

Table 5 shows the mean score of why the students of University of Jos use Twitter. To get the mean score, the five digits: 5,4,3,2 and 1 are summed up

51 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 to get 15. This sum (15) is divided by 5 (the total number of variables: SA, 15 A, UD, D and SD). That is /5 = 3. Therefore, 3 becomes the criteria mean.

Each variable contains the number of responses, which is further multiplied by its coded figure. For example,

5 4 3 2 1 SA A UD D SD

40 20 5 30 5

= 40 x 5 = 200 20 x 4 = 80 5 x 3 = 15 30 x 2 = 60 5 x 1 = 5 = 200+80+15+60+5 = 360 = 3.6 100 (no. of respondents) From this simple calculation, we established social relationships see that 3.6 is the table mean, facilitated by self expression which is symbolized by x in the avenues (picture & text) and the table. If the table mean is higher fact that the site provides another than the criteria mean then the option for academic research were decision is accepted. If the table reasons for patronizing Twitter. mean is below the criteria mean, Items 9, 11 and 14 with a table then the decision is rejected. The mean of 2.7, 2.4 and 2.3 criteria mean, therefore, is the respectively were rejected implying benchmark for taking decision. that users easily accessed their

Seven items sought responses on accounts, interacted with research reasons for using the platform with institutes, social, political and 3 items rejected and 4 accepted. religious associates and, read and Items 8, 10, 12 and 13 with a table shared news content quicker than mean of 3.4, 3.5, 3.1 and 4.0 other sites. This showed some sort respectively were accepted of balance in use as the platform indicating that the ease of gratifies their urge for academic registration and, sustenance of materials, news content (reception

52 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 and sharing) and socialization, in of the site (on personal computer terms of building mutually and handheld devices) makes the beneficial relationships with people aforementioned easily possible. far and near. The simplistic nature

Table 6 - How do students access Twitter? S/N ITEM SA A N D SD X DECISION 1. Students access Twitter 102 38 2 4 4 4.5 Accepted through mobile phones. 2. Students access Twitter 28 74 26 12 10 3.6 Accepted through other hand-held devices. 3. Twitter is accessed 24 72 32 18 4 3.6 Accepted through computers.

Table 6 shows the mean score on how students access Twitter. Data collected showed that there are other means that provide access just as mobile phones do. The students access Twitter through computers (desktop and laptop) and hand-held devices such as iPads and other tablets. Three items sought responses on the research question above. Item 5, which translated into 4.5 table mean shows that mobile phones offer the highest access to respondents as items 6 and 7 each translated into 3.6. This information proved that majority of the students use their mobile devices than personal computers to access Twitter. This is also supported by the fact that the age group that uses the site the most favours those between 21 and 26 years. Table 7 - Research Question 3: What is the most engaging activity on Twitter? S/N ITEM SA A N D SD X DECISION 1. Posting of tweets 70 50 18 12 0 4.1 Accepted 2. Reading of tweets (news 66 58 12 12 2 4.1 Accepted updates) 3. Reading tweets (from and 56 50 30 12 2 3.9 Accepted on celebrities) 4. Observing tweeps 28 58 46 16 2 3.6 Accepted 5. Retweeting 54 56 26 12 2 3.9 Accepted 6. Participating in trending 36 64 34 16 0 3.8 Accepted topics and ‗hashtags‘

Table 7 shows the mean score of implied that variables such as the activity the respondent viewed tweeting, reading of tweets, as most popular on Twitter. All six retweeting and connecting with items that sought the respondents‘ trending topics were all popular view on the most engaging activity among the respondents. However, on Twitter were accepted. This items 15 and 16, translated into 4.1

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Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 each indicating that posting of academic works, forming and tweets and reading of tweets on maintaining social relationships news are more active than the rest with friends and admired having recorded the highest table personalities. This supports mean score. Despite the popularity Oyero‘s (2013) and Otunla‘s of these functions, messages are (2013) positions that majority of often times distorted in meaning tertiary students use social and quality because of the networks as their primary sources restricted number of words usable. of news information in this decade.

This results in a communication Results also show that more than gap and the possibility of a sender‘s half of the sampled population intended meaning not conveyed to accessed the platform through the receiver. In the case of new mobile phones than computers and updates, a news story could be other hand-held devices. This is in misinterpreted when shortened and agreement with the world statistics, social communication could also be which favours mobile phone users misleading because of word as posited by Moore (2013). It can limitation. Celebrity gossips and also be adduced to the simplistic retweeting of same or similar nature of the mobile version of the information is also affected as platform, which is much easier to tweeps try to share an interesting access to a younger, and internet issue within the available character savvy community, as the result space. showed. The acceptance of items DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 15 – 20 supported this as the Social media have changed the face activities listed are such that can be of human relations and the carried out on-the-go, no different conventional human interaction in from the normal Short Message its variegated forms drastically. Service (SMS).

This new media have also With respect to research question redefined our value systems more one, i.e. why do they use Twitter? It narrowly and dangerously. was revealed that one of the Twitter is rising in popularity and is purposes the students of University projected to be one of the leading of Jos use Twitter is to form and rallying points on social media. maintain social relationships with Findings from the research shows fellow students (within and outside that the students of the University their school) as reflected in their of Jos use Twitter for ability to share private information informational, academic and social and experiences. This agrees with purposes. Responses show that the the findings of Ezeah, Asogwa and students used Twitter as an Obiorah (2013) and Haridakis and alternate research medium for Hanson (2009) that Nigerian

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Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 students use social media for social (2011) added that an average interaction and other leisure Nigerian youth spend about 6-7 entertainment. These findings hours daily on the Internet, and confirm the rationale for the some spend all night, surfing application of Uses and (tweeting and updating profiles on Gratifications theory of the media different social networks), and this as the theoretical anchor for this is made easier and more convenient study. with the mobile phones and other

Similarly, the study revealed that handheld devices. the students use Twitter because it Generally, results showed a balance serves as an alternative channel for in usage pattern as the platform is academic research and news well deployed to gratify news, content. This further justifies the academic and social needs. This is application of Uses and an indication that as more features Gratification theory to this study, as are developed, Twitter will get the finding also support that of more relevant in years to come Ezeah, Asogwa and Obiorah (2013) among students and will provide that social media platforms like stiff rivalry to other social Twitter give the students room for networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and 2go. getting essential information and education. CONCLUSION

The study further revealed that The various social networking sites students between 21 and 26 years are perhaps the most visible face to are more active on Twitter and social media today. This partly access to the platform is greatly accounts for their growing enhanced by the availability of popularity as a youth media. What mobile phones and other handheld distinguishes social networking devices. This is relative to the sites from other types of social conclusions of Onyeka, Sajoh & media is that in some manner they Bulus (2013) that adolescents and allow users to show the young adults are the heaviest connections they have, or they computer and Internet users, allow others to see their social primarily using it for completing networks. The ability to share the school assignments, e-mail and/or map of one's social network, and instant messaging. It was also allow others to tap into that map by argued that social networking sites contacting other people in the are the latest online communication network, has become an incredibly tool that allows users to create a powerful tool (Pavlik and McIntosh, 2011). public or private profile to interact with people in their networks Twitter, like other social (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). Kadala networking sites developed within

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Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 the past few years, provides a would guarantee better variety of communication and participation and use. sharing tools, and encourages users Second, there should be a to develop applications that make regulatory mechanism by Nigerian the site even more useful to users. Communications Commission to By this, you can subscribe, share, checkmate the activities of friend, or follow as many feeds as celebrities and users who share you would like, students post unverified information. The site tweets, retweet favourite tweets by owners should find a way to block followers, those followed, and tweets and other activities that do monitor activities of tweeps. not conform to consented user Understanding the driving forces of agreement during registration. In this micro blogging site helps in addition, users should endeavour to gaining a better picture of why verify messages or tweets and social media are transforming not sources before sharing with others. just media habits but today‘s world. Third, more students should be This study showed an average of 2 encouraged to register on Twitter as years of participation by the number is low compared to respondents which is a proof that Facebook and MySpace. The the site is gaining acceptance. On University of Jos should also create the whole, a few of the respondents a Twitter account for the institution, attributed their inactiveness on follow other research institutions Twitter to poor internet connections (local and international), and advise which affects all access means, all students to follow. By this, character limitation especially students will be exposed to where a favourite tweet is to be scholarships opportunities and ‗quoted‘ or retweeted. Thus, the talent development. paper concludes that Twitter has taken the process of information Fourth, Telecommunication gathering and sharing, socialization network providers in Nigeria must and learning by the students to a improve their services, especially higher platform thereby making the within the University community as site more than a mere interactive poor internet connections social networking site. discourage students from being active on Twitter. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings of this study, In addition to the fourth point the paper recommends that the above, the management of the word limit should be increased by University of Jos should expand the the developers of the site to a bandwidth of her wireless internet minimum of 150 words as this connection so the students can cut down on private internet charges

56 Covenant Journal of Communication (CJOC), Vol. 2, No. 1, June 2014 and maximize the social and computer laboratories should be academic benefits of social opened, if possible, in each networking. In the alternative, more Department or College of the functional Internet enabled University.

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AUTHOR’S INFORMATION

Mr. Samuel OLANIRAN is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos, , Nigeria. He could be reached via email at: [email protected] and through mobile on: +2347030719205

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