The influence of age and social media on the interpersonal communication style of people in Owerri metropolis

Abstract

Interpersonal communication played a vital role among the primitive people as they strive for survival and social cohesion. With the upsurge of modern social media, this vital aspect of man is jeopardised. Interpersonal communication which encouraged a face-to-face encounter is gradually being replaced with a certain mechanical pattern of communication. This tells on the quality of interpersonal communication between youths and adults in many places including Owerri metropolis. This study, relying heavily on a survey method, intends to find the link between age and social media usage and how this has affected the interpersonal communication pattern of the youths between the ages of 18 and 35 years and older adults between the ages of 60 and 75 years using residents of Owerri metropolis as a case study. It first affirmed the truth of the domestication and technological determinism theories as it relates to the rapid changes that occur on our interpersonal communication pattern occasioned by the rise of technologies and social media. Finally, it exposed that more youths within the metropolis prefers the social media while the adults still cling to the face-to-face pattern of communication. The consequences of this disparity in communication pattern is seen as more youth are deeply engrossed in communicating with their pals in many social media networks, while the adult ones are left without quality time for companionship and care.