Influence of Big Brother Naija 2019 (Pepper Dem) reality TV show on the social life of undergraduate students of Imo State University

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Big Brother Naija 2019 (Pepper Dem) reality TV show on the social life of undergraduate students of Imo State University, Owerri. The study was anchored on cultivation theory. The researchers adopted survey research design using questionnaire as instrument of data collection. The total population of the study was 20,000 students. The Taro Yamane's formula was used to arrive at a sample size of 396. A total of 396 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the selected departments in the eleven (11) faculties of the University. The study used the multistage sampling technique in selecting respondents for the study. The findings of this study revealed that BBNaija reality TV show has wide viewership among undergraduate students of Imo State University as 76.2% of the students watch the show in the evenings on daily bases. It also revealed that the students are not negatively influenced by what they watch on the reality show but have been positively influenced, as 72.5% of the students noted that they have been influenced in the areas of living peacefully with their roommates, neighbours and hostel mates. The researchers concluded that undergraduate students of Imo State University are not negatively influenced by BBNaija reality TV show despite their heavy viewership. The study recommended that the subsequent shows should reflect more educational content, indigenous Nigerian cultures and serve as a channel for transporting Nigerian and African culture to the outside world.