Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Students’ Perception of the Influence of Social Media Influencers: a Study of Blessing Ceo and Famous Dark Man Facebook

ABSTRACT This study explores the perception of students at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) regarding the influence of social media influencers, with a particular focus on the Facebook pages of Blessing CEO and Famous Dark Man. Social media influencers have become significant figures in shaping public opinion, lifestyle choices, and consumer behavior, especially among youths. This study adopted the Technological Determinism Theory and Social Learning Theory. This research aims to assess the extent of their impact on the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of COOU students. Among the objectives of this study are, to examine the extent of exposure of COOU students to social media influencers, to investigate the influence of social media influencers on COOU students, to investigate the perception of COOU students on the influence of social media influencers and to find out what motivates the followership of the social media influencers. Through a surveys the study gathers data from a 381 respondents gotten from the Cozby’s table. The analysis examines how these influencers affect students' perspectives on various issues such as self-image, relationships, and consumerism. It also investigates the degree to which students trust the content shared by these influencers and how it informs their decision-making processes. The findings of this study will contribute to understanding the role of social media influencers in the lives of university students, providing insights into the implications of their growing power in the digital space. The study made the recommendation that social media influencers should beware of the information, they disseminate on their social media handles.