CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Due to the rapid expansion of digital technology and the use of social media apps, the method young people communicate to each other on a daily basis has altered Quite a bit worldwide. There are many various applications of social media that can be used, but one most popular social media application used by Gen z is Tik Tok, an application that gained popularity very quick. Gen Z is the generation that was born between late 1990s and beginning of 2010. Technology has been in peoples' life since they were born...

The increased use of TikTok by youngsters has been of great worry to parents, educators, psychologists, and other researchers in recent times since it has some effects on the behavior, attitude, and lifestyle of youth. It has been proven by research that the excessive use of TikTok affects the attentiveness, emotionality, academic performance, interactions with others, and behavioral characteristics of Generation Z users (Jain et al., 2025). This is due to the fact that TikTok algorithmically designs its system in such a way that provides entertaining and customized content to users.

According to Rahayu et al. (2025), hedonic motivations such as enjoyment, curiosity, and satisfaction have promoted intensive TikTok usage among Generation Z users. Problematic TikTok use among Generation Z people, as mentioned by Zsila et al. (2025), is identified through lack of control, anxiety, loneliness, and behavioural issues. This shows without a doubt that too much use of TikTok because of the coronavirus disease pandemic could affect the behavior of the Gen Z generation positively or negatively..In Nigeria, especially in cities such as Jos North, the popularity of TikTok amongst the youths is rising significantly because of the presence of smartphones and the internet. The youth uses a lot of time on this application for purposes such as leisure, taking part in trends, and accessing social networks. While TikTok offers opportunities for creative expression, sharing of information, and social interaction, over-reliance on this application may cause cyberbullying, access to pornography, spread of misinformation, lack of focus in studies, and imitating behavior...

Changes in Z Gen's behaviors on TikTok addiction range from a lack of personal interaction, unfavorable study practices, addiction to social reward, restless sleeping behaviors hostility all to inadequate directions management. As has been observed by Liu et al. (2025), problem TikTok habits interfere with a youngsters' involvement in studies and an individual's self-control. On top of that, an addiction to TikTok can also have a negative consequence on ones' executive functioning and cognitive attention as said by Golding et al. (2025). Although TikTok is common among Nigerians, very few pieces of literature tend to address the issue of over-use of TikTok and the influence it has on Gen Z in Jos North. Previous research works focused on addiction to social media without pointing out the unique impact of the short video format on the behavior of the youth. This current research work So seeks to explore the influence of over-use of TikTok on Gen Z in Jos North.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

But, the overuse of TikTok by Generation Z adolescents is a serious problem in our society because of the possible behavioral modifications, the low school performance, the psychological effects and the interaction between people that it may generate. Most of the Generation Z teenagers spend their daily hours on TikTok creating videos and watching those of others and not doing something more profitable like reading and contact their friends in real life.

In Jos North, the access to phone and internet is so high that TikTok is now embracing fast in the lives of the youth. Due to In reality TikTok is fun and great outlet for creativity, chronic use of the platform often means addiction, an inability to focus and distraction, disinterest in school work boredom short attention span and imitating bad behavior.

The youth are now relying more and more on virtual contacts and least on real face-to-face contacts: [their] communication pattern and way of life is gradually affected.. In addition, The influence of viewing obscene contents; the pressure from peer groups on social media and; the distorted social norms conveyed through TikTok could adversely affect the behavior of Gen Z users. Despite this stated issues there is a gap in empirical research which should have been conducted on the behavioral implications of TikTok addiction among Gen Zs residents in Jos North.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of excessive use of TikTok on the behaviour of Gen Zs in Jos North.

The specific objectives are to:

I would conduct a study that will help me determine:

1.The prevalence of TikTok use amongst Gen Z in Jos North.

2.Behavioral consequences of TikTok addiction amongst Gen Z.

3.The effect of TikTok use on the academic performance of Gen Z.

4.The impact of TikTok use on social interaction and lifestyles of Gen Z in Jos North.

1.4 Research Questions

1.What is the frequency of use of TikTok by Generation Z in Jos North?

2.What behavioral impacts can be seen when there is an obsession with TikTok by Generation Z?

3.How does the abuse of TikTok impact academic achievement among Generation Z?

4.What effect does TikTok have on the social behavior and lifestyle of Generation Z in Jos North?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings from this research are going to be helpful to the following stakeholders: Students, parents, teachers, researchers, and policymakers. For instance, parents will be helped with regards to the fact that they will understand the behavioral impacts of using TikTok excessively by their young children. The teachers will benefit since they will have an understanding of the impact of social media addiction on their studies and behavior.

The research is going to contribute more knowledge about social media and teenagers in Nigeria. The findings may also be used by guidance counselors and policymakers to come up with campaigns and programs for promoting prudent use of social media.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This research focuses on the effects of excessive usage of TikTok on the behaviors of Gen Z individuals in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The focus of this study is on the behavior change, academic performance, socialization, and lifestyle of the excessive TikTok users from Gen Z.

Choosing the best test static for your study

In choosing the ideal test statistic in any study, this is a very important stage in the research process as it helps ensure that the information obtained through data analysis is valid and reliable. Test statistic is a value that exists after sample data has been obtained during the hypothesis testing stage of the research process. These values help researchers draw conclusions as to whether there is sufficient evidence to accept or reject the hypothesis under test. The decision as to whether the proper test statistic has been identified is largely dependent on the research issues under consideration, research goals and objectives, the type of data obtained and measurement levels of data used during the research process.4 Inappropriate choice of test statistic will lead to invalid research or made the research process meaningless.

The nature of data employed is yet another consideration in determining the best test statistic to employ. Study data could either be nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio in nature, and each would demand a different strategy during the analysis process. Nominal data such as gender or marital status, for example, can typically be examined using nonparametric approaches such as Chi-square testing, whereas interval or ratio data, such as age, income, or scores on a particular exam, are generally studied using parametric tests such as the t-test or ANOVA.

The second important factor that has to be weighed in is the number of variables that are reflected in the study and the relationship that the researcher attempts to establish. When two groups are being compared, a t-test is the best statistical test to employ. When more than two groups are being compared, analysis of variance (ANOVA) may prove to be more effective. As a thesis delves into the relationship between variables, correlation and regression analysis also would be a helpful tool. If the thesis attempts to find the impact of too much Tik Tok usage on Generation Z's behavior, regression analysis could be employed to finds the prediction that TIkTok usage will have on respondent's behavior..

The size of the sample also determines the best choice of test statistic. The larger the sample size, the higher the complexity of the parametric test assumed to satisfy the conditions of the normal distribution. The smaller the sample size, the higher the likelihood of using other forms of non-parametric test (less assumption-sensitive). Always ensure that you satisfy all the assumptions of any particular test before applying it on your data.

On top of this, the research objectives and hypothesis also form some of the most vital considerations when choosing the right test statistic. For descriptive research, basic statistics such as proportions, mean, and standard deviation will be adequate. However, in experimental and inferential research, complex statistics will have to be used for purposes of testing hypotheses.

In conclusion, the choice of the correct test statistic is very important in ensuring that one gets credible research findings. There are many considerations that should be taken into account by the researcher when choosing a test statistic. By doing so, credibility of the study will be enhanced while giving it scientific sense.