The Impact of Online Counseling Platform on Moral Orientation of Secondary School Teenagers in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State

The study explored the extent of online counseling platform usage among secondary school teenagers in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti, Ekiti State, and its impact on their moral orientation and decision-making processes. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which secondary school teenagers use online counseling platforms, the factors that contribute to the preference for online counseling over traditional face-to-face counseling services, the impact of online counseling on the moral orientation and decision-making of teenagers and the potential risks and challenges associated with online counseling. The study used a questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was designed with a 4-point Likert scale (SA = Strongly Agree, A = Agree, D = Disagree, SD = Strongly Disagree), and it contained 25 items in two sections: one for demographic information and the other for evaluating the usage and impact of online counseling. The responses of 125 participants (SS2 students, subject teachers, and counselors from five secondary schools) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, including mean scores, were used to analyze the data, with a cut-off mean score of 2.5 for acceptance. The findings revealed that a significant number of teenagers in Ikere Ekiti engage with online counseling platforms, with 55% having accessed these services in the past month. Factors contributing to their preference for online counseling included convenience, accessibility, anonymity, and the ability to avoid the logistical challenges associated with traditional counseling. Furthermore, the study found that online counseling has a positive impact on the moral orientation of teenagers, helping them navigate moral dilemmas, make informed decisions, and increase their self-awareness of values and principles. However, several challenges such as technical issues, concerns about effectiveness, and the difficulty of building rapport with counselors emerged.