Excessive Use of Social Media and Its Perceived Influence Among Married Civil Servants in Ikere Ekiti

Excessive social media use has become a widespread worry around the world, and it greatly impacts interpersonal communication and how well families function. This study examines the perceived influence of excessive social media use among married civil servants in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria; it determines the average time couples spend on social media; assesses the extent to which overuse creates physical and emotional distance between spouses; it finds the different ways that social media affects how well families are doing; and it suggests ways to lessen its bad effects. Guided by the Uses and Gratifications Theory and Family Systems Theory. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from a stratified random sample of 256 married civil servants using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, were computed using SPSS Version 26. Findings reveal that (85.8%) of respondents actively use social media, with a considerable proportion spending between three and five hours daily online. Excessive use was found to reduce quality interaction (mean = 2.97), foster emotional detachment, and weaken spousal bonds (mean = 3.01). The most endorsed strategies for improvement were setting daily usage limits (mean = 3.15) and introducing ‘no social media’ periods during meals or bedtime (mean = 3.21). Recommendations include couples create structured “no-social-media times” within the home, marriage counselors incorporate digital habits into family counseling programmes.
Keywords: Digital behaviour, family wellness, marital intimacy, spousal bonding, social media use.