ASSESSMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG YOUTHS IN LAGOS AND ONDO STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The most recent revolution in photography is the Social Photography Revolution, where photographic images are used to power the social media and boost social networking. The traditional means of dissemination of information is now almost usurped by social media with Social Networking Sites, (SNSs) fast becoming mainstream platform of communication among people particularly the youths. This study therefore assessed photographic images and their effects on social networking among youths in Lagos and Ondo states, Nigeria. The postmodernism theory was employed to explain the current trend of some of the photographic images encountered in the course of the study. Questionnaire and interview were employed as tools to elicit relevant information from youths about their interaction with photographic images on SNSs and also to assess the influence such interaction has on the youths’ social behaviour. A total of 1010 questionnaires were returned and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result showed that large number of youths engaged the use of photographic images in their interaction on the SNSs, many accepted that they were drawn to SNSs by photographs. Quite a number opened up that their virtual dealings on the SNSs had both positively and negatively influenced their offline demeanour. The studies also revealed that quite a number of youths do not have adequate understanding of the meaning or messages some photographic images carry. It was therefore suggested that youths should be exposed to the knowledge of visual semantic of photographic images to enhance their better and more profitable usage.