SEXUAL

This study examined the impact of sexual content on social media on the psychological and social life of students at the University of Benin. The research adopted a descriptive survey design and utilized a structured questionnaire administered to 100 undergraduate respondents across various faculties. The studysought to determine the extent of students’ exposure to sexual content, the common types encountered, and how such exposure influences their behavior, mental health, and academic performance. Findings revealed that students are highly exposed to sexual content on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The most prevalent forms of content include nude images, sexually suggestive videos, and romantic skits. Exposure to such materials was found to significantly influence students’ attitudes, leading to increased curiosity, anxiety, self-comparison, and changes in social behavior. Moreover, frequent exposure was negatively associated with academic performance due to distraction and reduced study concentration. The study further established that social workers play a vital role in mitigating these effects through counseling, digital literacy programs, and awareness campaigns on responsible media use. It concludes that while social media serves as an important communication and educational tool, unregulated access to sexual content poses serious psychological and academic risks to students. The study recommends that the University should strengthen digital literacy education, enhance counseling services, and engage social workers in promoting safe and healthy media consumption among students.