Increase in proliferation of mobile phones and more specifically smart phones in Kenya has resulted in increased adoption of social media. This adoption can be attributed to various factors such as increase in internet penetrability and the increased capacity and capability of mobile phones to support social media platforms which makes them more accessible. This adoption of social media is especially more pronounced among the youth. According to Kenya National Bureau of statistics (KNBS), the median age in Kenya is 19.6 years. KNBS data also indicates that about 29.7 % of the Kenya’s population are aged between 18 to 34 years. These datasets show that a vast majority of Kenya’s population is young. These young and tech savvy individuals, therefore, are at the forefront of social media usage and interaction driving societal shifts and trends. The relationships and connection we make matter. They help determine our happiness and even longevity. It therefore important to understand how social media is influencing interpersonal relationships more so among the young in society. This essay will examine the social effects of social media among youth in Kenya. Specifically, it will highlight its influence -both positive and negative- on social relationships.
Influence on social relationships
Positive influence
Traditionally, social relationships were formed through face to face interactions. It was assumed that face to face interactions, physical proximity and non-verbal communication were necessary for effective interaction (Lea and Spears, 1995). The advent of social media and other online interactions have proven this assumption wrong. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for youths to form relationships and connections with other individuals from different geographical locations by just a touch of a button through their mobile device due to platforms such as Facebook, x (formerly twitter), Instagram etc. Further, not only is social media important in forming relationships it also facilitates maintenance of existing ones. For example, for relationships that were formed offline and physical interaction becomes untenable, social media breaks that physical barrier. It enables friends, family and even romantic partners to check on each other thus maintaining their relationship.
Social media has also enabled marginalized young people such as those within the LBGDTQ community to meet, bond and discuss about issues that affects them thus creating an emotional and social support system. For example, a study by Ndlela and Mulwo (2017) indicated that university students in two Kenya universities met on social media to discuss issues and topics that would be considered difficult in face to face conversations. Social media enabled them to meet with other members of their community and thus strengthened their relationship.
Negative Influence
Social media can lead to decreased quality in relationship. In a bid to increase the amount of time people spend on their platforms, social media platforms have devised complex algorithms that influences people to be glued on their screens for much longer than ever before. The average time people spend on screen is slowly increasing each year. This has the effect of decreasing the quality of relationship be they plutonic or romantic. In a thesis study, Spencer (2018) showed that the more time an individual spent on social media, the more likely they were to report decreased quality in relationship with their significant other. This decrease in quality was attributed to distractions, frustrations and decreased quality time with their significant other in offline setting. Another study by Pew Research Center showed that 52% of 18 to 29 year who were in a romantic relationship say their partner is at least sometimes distracted by their cellphones when they are trying to have a conversation with them (Anderson, 2020). While the study was conducted in United States of America, personal observations indicate that the same hold true for youths in Kenya.
Feelings of Jealousy are also exacerbated by social media which can cause harm to relationships. This happens mostly when a sense of insecurity is created after observing a significant other interacting with other individuals. This feeling can often lead to trust issues and lead partners get tempted to keep vigil at their partners’ social accounts to check and investigate who they are interacting with. In the study by Pew Research Center (2019), 34% of people in relationship indicated that they had looked through their current partners’ phone without their knowledge. This is disconcerting as it may indicate why so many relationships among the youths end pre-maturely in Kenya.
Social media affords us the opportunity for self-presentation. This means that individuals get to curate content for presentation to their connections. While this can be argued to be good, it can also result in fueling unrealistic expectations in relationships. For example, while curating their platforms, people often select the best things to present. This can lead to a false impression of a perfect world. In relationship, when this is seen, other will try to imitate to live up to such standards and when they fail falsely conclude that their relationships are dull. These unrealistic expectations easily lead to conflicts among partners in relationships.
Closely related to the unrealistic expectations fueled by social media is the feelings of low self-worth among youth in Kenya. This feeling of low self-worth harms the way youth are interacting with each other and at times even predisposes them to harm. This feeling of low self-worth can arise when individuals compare themselves to people who have painted a picture of successful lives which at times may not even be the case.
Conclusion
Social media has had both positive and negative influence of relationship among youths in Kenya. On one hand, it has enabled the youth not only to form and maintain relationships and connections but has also enabled the creation of support systems among those with similar interests and a safe space to discuss issues that would otherwise been considered taboo. On the other hand, it has also created a decrease in the quality of relationships experienced, increased jealously, unrealistic expectations and feelings of low self-worth. With more youth increasingly using social media, it is paramount that measures be taken to ensure that it’s negative effects are reduced. Such measures can include formulating laws that regulate on the use of algorithms employed by the social platforms that increase time spent on their platforms. Also, it is critical for individuals to take personal measures to ensure they spend less time on social media. A start for this can be something small such as curating the amount of time spent each day on social media site and taking active a pro-active approach to reduce this.
References
Anderson, E. A. V. and M. (2020, May 8). Dating and Relationships in the Digital Age. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/05/08/dating-and-relationships-in-the-digital-age/
Ndlela, M. N., & Mulwo, A. (2017). Social media, youth and everyday life in Kenya. Journal of African Media Studies, 9(2), 277–290. https://doi.org/10.1386/jams.9.2.277_1
Lea, M. and Spears, R. (1995), ‘Love at first byte? Building personal relationships over computer networks’, in J. T. Wood and S. Duck (eds), Understanding Relationships: Off the Beaten Track, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. pp. 197–233.
Christensen, Spencer Palmer, "Social Media Use and Its Impact on Relationships and Emotions" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 6927.https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6927
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