Exploring the Role of Social Media on Psychological Well-Being, Cultural Identity, Civic Engagement, and Governance among Nigerian Youths: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study explores the role of social media on Nigerian youth, focusing on psychological well-being, cultural identity, civic engagement, and governance. This study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and analysis of anonymized online forum posts. Utilizing reflexive thematic analysis, data were collected from 25 in-depth interviews with Nigerian youths aged 18-35, five mental health professionals, five policy experts or civil society activists, and three government representatives, alongside six focus groups and anonymized online forum posts, yielding 1,247 coded segments analyzed via NVivo. Five themes emerged: Mental Health Vortex, revealing social media’s dual role in fostering distress and resilience; Digital Diaspora, highlighting tensions between cultural erosion and hybrid identity formation; Regulatory Rift, reflecting polarized perceptions of government oversight; Engagement Eclipse, underscoring empowerment and censorship in civic participation; and Resilience Roadmap, emphasizing digital literacy and systemic gaps. Findings suggest cognitive-behavioural and narrative therapies to address psychological and cultural challenges, alongside participatory governance to balance digital rights and safety. Limitations include an urban focus, necessitating rural perspectives in future research. This study contributes to clinical psychology by offering context-specific insights for interventions in Nigeria’s digital landscape