Online Networking and Social Support among Twitter Users at University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Apart from access and ease to use networking sites, online networking is a means to gain knowledge, create and maintain relationships, undertake business transactions, and provides users opportunity to ventilate their psychological and emotional feelings with a view to gaining social support. Against this backdrop, a study was carried out to examine online social networking and social support among Twitter users specifically undergraduates at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The objective was to determine the kind of social support Twitter users get through online networking. Anchored on weak ties theory, the study surveyed 310 respondents from a study population of 1,611 based on the Krejche and Morgan (1970) published table from all the fifteen Faculties at the University of Ilorin. The Google questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Findings revealed that respondents seeking social support on Twitter gain primarily financial, entertainment and moral support. The study also revealed an insignificant correlation between the levels of following on Twitter and the magnitude of social support gained. Based on these findings, this study recommended among other things, sustained use of Twitter by users to seek social support.