Social Media Use and Incidences of Criminal Behavior Among Students of Bamidele Olumilua Universityof Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State

This study investigates the role of social media in facilitating criminal behavior among students of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI). With the increasing popularity of social media platforms, there has been a corresponding rise in their misuse for criminal purposes, particularly among young adults. The research aimed to explore how social media serves as a tool for criminal activities, identify the predominant platforms used, examine the demographic characteristics of the perpetrators, uncover the factors driving these behaviors, and assess the societal impact. survey research design was adopted where questionnaire was administered to students as research instrument, and the data collected were analyzed using SPSS. V23. Findings revealed that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok are frequently used to perpetrate crimes like fraud, hacking, and cybercrime. Male students between the ages of 16-25 were found to be the most active in engaging in these behaviors, with factors like unemployment, financial hardship, easy access to the internet, and lack of parental care serving as key motivators. The study also highlighted the broader negative impacts on society, including increased rates of cybercrime, poor academic performance, and a tarnished international image of Nigeria. The study concludes that social media significantly contributes to criminal behavior among students, necessitating proactive measures to curb its misuse. Recommendations include implementing stricter regulatory frameworks, promoting responsible social media use through awareness campaigns, addressing root causes like unemployment, and enhancing collaboration between social media companies and law enforcement agencies. This research contributes to the existing knowledge in social research especially in the area of social media and criminality, providing actionable recommendations for policymakers, educators, and law enforcement to tackle this growing challenge.