Sexual and Sexuality Discourse Among Students on Social Media
CHAPTER ONE
Research Objectives
- To identify the extent to which Kwara State University students are exposed to sexual discourse on social media.
- To identify the nature and pattern of sexual discourse on social media among Kwara State University students.
- To examine the perception of Kwara State University students on discourse of sexually related matters on social media.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses the literature that has been reviewed by the researcher on the influence of sexual content available on social media on the knowledge, attitude and behavior of university students. The overall purpose for literature review is to develop a strong knowledge base for conduct of the research. Literature review is an important step in the study because no knowledge exists in vacuum.
PERSPECTIVES ON ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLES’ SEXUALITY, SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT AND SEXUAL IDENTITY FORMATION
Greenberg, Bruess & Conklin (2011) propose an inclusive meaning of sexuality, “sexuality is more than what you do with other people sexually, not only about sex or taking part in sexual behaviors, it is about the person you feel you are, your body, how you feel as girl or as a boy, man or woman, the way you act and feel about other people, it encompasses the sexuality discourse, beliefs, altitudes, values and behaviors of individuals”. Sexuality encompasses the sexuality discourse, beliefs, attitudes, values, orientation, sexual roles, thoughts, feelings, personality, relationships and behaviors of individuals. It deals with the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the sexual response system, as well as with roles, identity, and personality. Sexuality encompasses thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships” (Haffner, 1995). Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction and is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and relationships (Greenbreg & Bruess, 2007).
Bolin & Whelehan (2009) propose a framework that examines four dimensions of sexuality development. The various dimensions examine the anatomy, social cultural psychology and biochemistry of the sexual development and sexual response systems, identity, orientation, roles, personality, thoughts, feelings and relationships.
Psychological developmental aspects
Psychological aspects explain our learned aspects of sexuality. Our altitudes and feelings towards ourselves and other people are a result of the learning experiences we have undergone (Bolin & Whelehan, 2009). Learning agents such as churches, family, peers, schools, media and relatives become major sources of knowledge in this dimension. These learned experiences whether negative or positive become an integral part of our sexuality.
Biological developmental aspects
Biological dimensions of sexuality involve our physical appearance, physical sexual attributes (appearance) and our responses to sexual stimuli, ability to reproduce or control fertility and growth and development in general (Bolin & Whelehan, 2009). Biological functioning relates to natural endowments and capacities of human beings. Fisher et al (2009) emphasizes the generic aspect of behavior. Although she recognizes that culture plays an important role in ones sexuality, she also supports essentialism, the belief that the essence of sexuality is biological (Pintrich & Schultz 2000; Hammack, 2005). Essentialist perspective views sexual orientation as an internal property of individuals which transcends history and culture and as such it is ahistorical, universal, contextindependent underlying trait of the individual (Hammack, 2005). Brandhorst et al (2012) assume that the role of biology is mainly limited to providing potentialities and setting limits.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the research methods used to address the following research questions objectives, the research design, the sample size and sampling techniques, target population, data collection instruments, data collection processes and data analysis. Many factors are known to influence young sexuality discourse, attitudes and behavior. This research explores the role of the media in this relationship. The study will examine the influence of sexualized content on social media on students’ sexuality discourse, behaviors and attitudes. Specifically, the research will attempt to establish whether the mediated and portrayed sexual behaviors on social media will have any impact on university students’ sexual behavior and attitudes.
RESEARCH DESIGN
The objectives and research questions of this study requires a descriptive survey method. A survey method studies a large population (universe) by selecting and studying samples (subsets) selected form the population discover the relative incidence, distribution and inter-relations of sociological and psychological variables (Kerlinger, 1983).
Survey method was found suitable for this study for understanding the user’s attitudes, opinions, motivations and feelings on usage of social media. To address the research questions and objectives, the researcher will adopted a mixed method model. First the research conducted questionnaire survey to get response from respondents on a wide range topics on social media and sexuality socialization and then then focus group discussions were conducted in order to deeper insight into student’s views, feelings and thoughts about them same topic. The results from the two analyses were analyzed and interpreted to determine the influence of implied and explicit sexual content on social media on sex knowledge, attitude and behavior of the student.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RESPONDENTS
The data contains two very important demographic characteristics including: age and gender. It was also established that 143 (47.7%) of the respondents were males, while 157 (52.3%) were females. From the findings majority of the respondents (61.0%) were between 20-23 years old while 29.0% were between 16-19 years old. 6.3% were between 24-27 years, 3,0% were in the age bracket 38-31 years and only .07% age over 32 years. The ages between 16-24 years constitute the 90% of the total number of respondents and this confirms that university students are student within the age category targeted by this research.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STUDY.
SUMMARY
The majority of the respondents (50.7%) reported that they often had used social media to talk about dating, sexuality, pregnancy and sexual relationships with friends on social media. It was revealed that (43.3 %) felt interested in reading, commenting, and sharing issues on dating, sex and relationships on social networking sites.
As many (49%) confirmed to have come across sexual content on how to date (), how to kiss (43.7%), how to hook up (45.7%), how form sexual relationships (39.3%), how to write sexual messages, poems and songs (39.3%)) and information how to make love, sex/ask for sex (45%). As many as revealed to have had come across “hardcore” sexually explicit materials (images and/or videos) depicting exposed women genitals (50.3%)), exposed men genitals (43.7%), oral sex (35.7%), sexual intercourse with members of the opposite sex (41.6%), sexual relationships with the same sex member (36.0%), nude or semi-nude women (49.7%) nude or semi-nude men (36.0%), oral sex with same sex(30%) and oral sex with opposite sex (41%). Exposure to photos and/or videos on oral sex and sexual intercourse between same sex members is likely to promote homosexuality among the youth. Further analysis revealed that respondents had joined and participated in activates of erotic online groups on Facebook. Such online groups are dedicated to sexual talk and sexual activities.
The level of consumption of mediated and portrayed sexual content on social media among university students.
It was determined that respondents did not only expose themselves to sexual content on
SM but they also participated in the creation and distribution of such content using SM. It was reported by 37.7 % of the participants that their friends on SM had posted sexy or provocative photos and/or videos of themselves in their online social networking profiles, 13.3% confirmed to that had posted sexual or provocative photos and/or videos of themselves, 8.7% agreed that they posted nude and/or semi-nude photos and/or images, 21.4% indicated to have like or commented on nude or semi-nude photo and/or videos posted by others on their social networking profiles, 23.6% to have liked or commented on photos and/or videos about oneself and 22% confessed to have been tagged to sexy or provocative, nude and semi-nude photos and videos. The study further revealed that they had 17.6% frequently used SM to look for nude and semi-nude photos and videos, 20% confirmed to have frequently looked for sexy or provocative, nude and semi-nude photos and videos posted by friends on social networking profiles, % felt preoccupied with sexy, provocative, nude, seminude photos/videos posted by friends, 18.7% confirmed to have felt preoccupied with for sexy or provocative, nude and seminude photos and videos posted by friends and interestingly 40.6% confessed to have rarely stopped looking at sexy or provocative, nude and semi-nude photos and videos posts.
To investigate how social media influence sexuality discourse, attitudes and behavior of university students.
The respondents were found to engage in both non- penetrative sexual activity and penetrative sexual activity. It was revealed that most of the respondents had engaged in non-penetrative sexual activity. The majority among the respondents had kissed (82.6%), 67% had made out, 70% had touched or had their genitals touched and 57.6% had touched or had genitals touched. It was further revealed that majority of the respondents (66.0%) reported that they had engaged in sexual intercourse in their life. % (male and females), 35.0% had ever engaged in oral sex, 17.0% indicated that they had engaged in sexual intercourse with one person, 18.7% of the respondents reported that they have had three sexual partners, 58.3% confessed to have engaged in sexual intercourse six month before the commencement of this study. 41.3 % reported that they had engaged in sexual intercourse with one person, 17% confessed to have engaged in sex with more than one person (multiple sexual partners) six months before the commencement of this study. Of those who had engaged in sexual intercourse for the past six months, 28% did not use a condom (protection) but higher percentage (39.3%) used condoms than those who did not use.
Reported incidences of sexual activity and no use of condoms suggest that male and female student may be at high risks of consequences of sexual behaviors. The results show that 66.0% had engaged in sex in their life time and 58.3% had engaged in sex for the past four months before the study. The study did not find out how many had always used a condom during sexual intercourse but the proportion of respondents who had engaged in sex were without protection were at risk of vulnerable to contracting HIV.
This means that a lot of advocacy is needed in behavior change toward casual sex.
To examine the association of consumption and exposure to explicit sexual content with sexual permissiveness and sexual behavior Chi-square correlations analysis were conducted using consumption and exposure as the independent variables and sexual permissiveness and sexual behavior score as the dependent variables. The Significant correlations were found amongst variables measuring exposure and consumption of sexual content and variable measuring sexual permissiveness and behavior. Correlations analysis conducted among student who reported to have consumed sexual content in social media found revealed associations between exposure and sexual attitude and behavior. Young who used exposed themselves to sexual content on social media were found to have more permissive attitudes toward sexual activity Liberal attitudes towards premarital relationships and sexual intercourse were significantly associated with penetrative sex .Students that held liberal attitudes towards heterosexual relationships and sex were found more likely to engage in sexual activities. This confirms that individuals exposed to sexually explicit materials on the social media engage in more high-risk sexual behaviors.
RECOMMENDATIONS
From the findings of the present study we argue that social media play an important role in the sexual socialization of the youth. Cooper et al suggests three reasons that have made internet an important sexual educator for youth: accessibility, affordability, and anonymity (Cooper et al, 2010). It is affordable and available 24 hours 7 days a week and especially when they access through their mobile phones. This present study found mobile phones to be very important communication tools that student used to access their online accounts. Judging by the overwhelming popularity of social media as shown by this study, student are using the Internet for social purposes and meeting sexual partners. Internet is an integral part of adolescent sexual life as found by this study that student engage sexual discussions and exchange of explicit sex content.
The big question that begs for answers is whether student can be protected from the effects consumption of sexual content and other harmful information. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made for facilitating proper use of social networking among student and for conducing future research. These mechanism are meant to explore possibilities for protecting student from unhealthy media messages and improve their sexual health. Brown and Witherspoon (2006) suggests: government regulation, media advocacy, public health campaigns, and media literacy.
Media literacy should be conducted to teach student critical skills on how to gauge media messages and the way behaviors are promoted by the media before adopting them. They should be informed on the potential dangerous associated with consumption of explicit sexual content. Parents and other health educators should take a strategic role on guiding student on how use positive educative information on the internet.
Programs and workshops should be offered about communication between parents and young about sexuality, safe and contraceptives. Parental involvement in discussing issues of sexuality and sexual development and promoting meaningful communication about and benefits of sexual behavior may insulate student from negative consequences of exposure to sexual content on social media. Communication with parents can have an impact in university students’ attitudes about sexual behavior. Intervention should promote parent involvement in sexual discussions and address validity and accuracy of information received from peers. Researchers have found sex-related communication between parents and university students to be less prevalent than communication with peers or friends (DiIorio, Kelley, & Hockenberry-Eaton, 1999; Lefkowitz & Espinosa-Hernandez, 2007). Students need valid, reliable and accurate information on the need for use of protection, information on the risks of sexual transmission and means of protection. There is need to convince these students that the risk of HIV infection exists in a personal sense and the need to protection is very important.
Mass media campaigns that address online pornography should devised and promoted to curb the rising online prostitution, sexual behaviors and non- use of contraceptives.
Ways should be found to limit the amount of online pornography available to the student and children.
As this research was conducted in one college in Kwara state involving one campus respondents who filled the questionnaires, it is recommended that future research should be conducted in other parts of Kwara state and Nigeria as a whole.
The study only examined the influence of social media. The target population (university students) utilize other media outlets such T.V, magazines, pornographic websites, music videos, games cell phones and other hand-held devices (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). These media are utilized by university students and therefore should also be studied especially on their power to facilitate sexual socialization.
The present day study has revealed that university students are active users of social media and therefore are likely to be affected by the negative information portrayed in these platforms. The study however, does not conclusively address the evidence to support or reject the impact of social media on sexuality discourse, attitude and behavior. Future studies should continue to investigate the nature of these relationships using other research approaches and methods in order substantially understand the role of social media in sex education among university students.
CONCLUSION
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of portrayed and mediate sexual content on university students’ sexual behavior and attitudes. In exploring the influence of sexual content on social media and its influence on the sexuality discourse and attitudes of university students, several findings have been presented and discussed especially that of sexuality discourse and attitudes. The results suggest that student are indeed consuming sexual media content in the social media and that could probably be more explicit than sexual continent in the traditional media and this is likely to make them engage in dangerous sexual activities. The study results analysis has shown that sexual media content consumption is likely to be significantly related to the sexual activities and permissible sexual attitudes. It is therefore important for other researches be conducted on social networking and sexual content consumption in order to statistically obtain precise assessments on individual exposure to sexual content and sexuality discourse to clearly map exposure and sexual behavior. It is also important to educate and socialize young adults toward the use and abuse of their online platforms and make them realize the effects of online pornography. We hope that this study will contribute to our knowledge and that future research will further enhance our understanding.
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