Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Social Media Addiction has emerged as a critical factor shaping social trust among neighbours across organizations operating in and around Rivers State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how social media addiction relates to social trust among neighbours has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Rivers State, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of social media addiction on social trust among neighbours, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on social media addiction, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with social trust among neighbours, particularly within Rivers State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about social media addiction without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect social trust among neighbours. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Social Media Addiction on social trust among neighbours in Rivers State.
2. To assess the extent to which social media addiction influences social trust among neighbours within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with social media addiction in relation to social trust among neighbours.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing social media addiction in order to improve social trust among neighbours.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of social media addiction on social trust among neighbours in Rivers State?
2. To what extent does social media addiction influence social trust among neighbours within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with social media addiction in relation to social trust among neighbours?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize social media addiction in order to improve social trust among neighbours?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around social trust among neighbours. For managers and practitioners within Rivers State, the study provides practical insight into how social media addiction can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on sociology by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Rivers State, focusing specifically on how social media addiction relates to social trust among neighbours within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.