EVALUATION OF UYO RESIDENTS PERCEPTION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE NEW MEDIA IN AKWA IBOM STATE.

EVALUATION OF UYO RESIDENTS PERCEPTION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE NEW MEDIA IN AKWA IBOM STATE.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

The term “perception” comes from the domain of psychological study. It is usually defined as a process by which we become aware of our environment or challenges within it mainly through the physical senses of sight, hearing, taste, feeling and smell etc.

According to Kretch (1974) perception refers generally to one’s experiences or awareness of the world around him. Perception is susceptible to suggestion from other individuals or objects. It is influenced by the factors:

1. Prior experiences
2. Personal e.g drives, emotions, attitudes and values.

Social and cultural factors have effect on the perception of our environment people from different social and cultural backgrounds perceive some objects differently. These factors along with our interest may also influences our interpretation of what we perceive.

Against this backdrop that the study evaluate Uyo residents perception of the practice of the new media in Akwa Ibom State.

Communication is central to human life, it sustains and maintains human relationship and social interaction. It is the transfer of information from one person, context or group to another (Giddens et al, 2005).

Robins (2005) and Kinicki and Williams (2006), communication is a definite process involving the source or purpose, channel or medium of transmission, decoding, the receiver and the feedback.

In essence, communicators often consider which channel to use in order to reach a given target audience rather than using the other forms of communication. One of such channels is internet. The internet has significantly change these thought as it has become the first choice of many establishments, organisations, institutions and even individuals for sending and receiving message relations among people. Over the  last decade,  the internet

have access to them in different parts of the world and in different socio-economic contexts have necessitated this study to specifically ascertain the variations in social networking websites usage among residents in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

1.2   Statement of the Problems         

The evolution of information communication technology in Nigeria is a welcome development where Nigerians join other developing nations in the application of internet. Internet is an electronic medium that functions effectively with the satellite. Internet allows the users to look for information which has been put on it. In the same vein, governmental policies aimed at fast tracking the impact of social networking websites. Aside Nigeria being a global village following her participation in the world of information communication technology to promote socio-economic development.

This study concerns itself with the perception of the practice of the new media in Uyo. Users of internet in Uyo metropolis have abused the purpose for which it was meant following the negative disposition of the users of internet to defraud the customers, corporate organization. Communities, individuals etc. leaving the policy makers and management and regulatory bodies to be in perpetual night mare over the fraudulent users of internet in Uyo.

1.3   Objectives of the Study    

        The objectives of the study are to:

1. find out the uses and gratifications of social networking websites among Uyo residents.