Abstract

This study investigated social media usage and peer influence as factors that could predispose adolescents to moral decadence. Descriptive research design of correlational type was used in the study to find the relationship between the independent variables (social media usage, peer pressure) and the dependent variable (moral decadence). Simple random sampling technique was used to draw participants of 300 in-school adolescents in Osun state (Male= 121; Female= 179) with the age range of 11 - 17years and mean age 12.5years. Data was collected through three standardized scales which were self-administered to these participants in their various schools. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v16); specifically, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) and multiple regression statistics. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that moral decadence was significantly correlated to social media usage (r=.686, p<0.05) and peer influence (r=.571, p<0.05); independent variable (social media and peer influence) when combined together have significant relationship with (moral decadence) the dependent variable (R=0.844 & adjusted R square = 0.711) which mean that the independent variables accounted for 71.1% in the prediction of moral decadence among adolescents and each of the independent variables made significant contribution to the prediction of moral decadence. In terms of magnitude of the contribution; social media usage (β=0.626, t=19.989, p<0.05) indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, followed by peer influence (β=0.496, t=15.831, p<0.05). There is need for effective delivery of counseling service most especially peer counseling geared towards morality and peer sensitization programmes on positive moral behaviour and healthy usage of social media network and the internet.