SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST RITUAL KILLING AND GET RICH SYNDROME AMONGST PORT HARCOURT YOUTHS

Abstract

The study examined social media campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome amongst Port Harcourt youths. The objectives of the study were to examine the extent to which Port Harcourt youths are exposed to social media campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome, ascertain the predominant social medial platforms used in the campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome amongst Port Harcourt youths, find out the causes and effects as well as the level of effectiveness of social media campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome amongst Port Harcourt youths. The study employed Social Learning and Strain theories. The survey research design was used. The population of Port Harcourt youths was 680,800. Questionnaire was the instrument used for the gathering of data for the study. Multistage sampling technique was used. The sample size was 400. This was determined using Taro Yamene’s formula. Data were presented in tables while questions were analyzed using four point Likert scale criterion mean. The findings revealed that Port Harcourt youths were to a large extent exposed to social media campaign. It was also found that Facebook and Whatsapp were the predominant social media platforms used in the campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome amongst Port Harcourt youths. The findings further showed that quest for materialism, power and position, greed and peer group pressure influenced Port Harcourt youths to engage in ritual killings and get rich syndrome. It was revealed also that the high incidence of the act caused death, imprisonment, madness and curses on the perpetrators. The study recommended that both federal and state governments should employ social medial platforms such as Facebook and Whatsapp to enlighten the youths on the dangers of ritual killings and get rich syndrome and also to provide jobs for them. It was concluded that all stakeholders should  work together to end this syndrome in Nigeria. While the National Orientation Agency should engage in a strategic nation - wide awareness campaign against ritual killing and get rich syndrome amongst youths in Nigeria to put an end to this menace.