Social media has become an integral part of students’ relationships, providing opportunities to build friendships, maintain connections and communicate across distances, but excessive use and irresponsible online behaviour can undermine trust and understanding.

Students and social media users have therefore been urged to adopt responsible digital habits and prioritise effective communication in sustaining healthy relationships.

Platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok have transformed how young people interact, enabling instant messaging, voice calls and video conversations with friends and loved ones.

However, the growing influence of social media on personal relationships has raised concerns over jealousy, mistrust, misunderstandings and distractions from academic responsibilities.

Miss Tomilola Ojo, who frequently uses Snapchat, said social media had made it easier for students to communicate, build friendships and maintain relationships.

She noted that the platforms provided convenient ways to stay connected and express emotions, regardless of distance.

Similarly, Miss Nika Adesola observed that although social media could strengthen relationships, excessive use and certain online interactions sometimes created misunderstandings, jealousy and mistrust.

Miss Joan Testimony, however, highlighted the effect of excessive social media engagement on students’ daily activities, noting that it could distract them from academic responsibilities and reduce the quality time spent with friends and loved ones.

From the perspective of content creators, social media influencer, Mr Christopher Olusa, stressed the importance of responsible online behaviour in maintaining meaningful relationships.

He said trust, mutual respect and effective communication remained essential, despite the opportunities digital platforms offered for interaction and connection.

As social media continues to shape students’ relationships, users have been encouraged to strike a balance between online engagement and real-life interactions to protect trust, strengthen communication and sustain meaningful connections.