Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Social Media Use has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with interpersonal relationships. This growing interest reflects the recognition that social media use does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria.

Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on social media use, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with interpersonal relationships, particularly within Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about social media use without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect interpersonal relationships. 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 Use on interpersonal relationships in Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which social media use influences interpersonal relationships within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with social media use in relation to interpersonal relationships.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing social media use in order to improve interpersonal relationships.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of social media use on interpersonal relationships in Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does social media use influence interpersonal relationships within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with social media use in relation to interpersonal relationships?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize social media use in order to improve interpersonal relationships?

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 interpersonal relationships. For managers and practitioners within Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how social media use can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on psychology 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 BSc study confines itself to Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how social media use relates to interpersonal relationships within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.