PARENTAL INTERVENTION ON NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA ON NIGERIAN YOUTHS A STUDY OF BIG BROTHER NIGERIA

BACKGROUND OF STUDY: The entertainment media which is part of mass media, is undoubtedly one of the major tools that catch the attention of young people, teenagers and or youths in an interesting way today. The mass media (journals, magazines, radio or podcast, television, films and the social media such as V-logs) can perform vital roles in the development of a society like serving as a medium for argument, civil participation, re-direction, socialization, mobilization, erudition and entertainment. (Lasswell, 2013) According to an online journal; Carnegie Mellon University, Broadcast television will carry on with the experiences of vital changes as television will continue to be interactive and routined for viewers. Reality Television Shows (RTS) such as Big brother Naija, MTN Project frame , Nigeria Idol, Gulder Ultimate Search, Maltina Dance Hall, Glo Naija Sings, etc. is a category of television producing or programming documents which have off-hand or unscripted situations and real time occurrences and often headline an earlier unknown cast. It often spotlights individual drama and or conflict to a far greater extent (Laitto, 2015).

Reality Television Show has been proven recently, as the favourite among the youths, particularly those within the age range of 18-25 (Chikafe & Mateveke, 2012). According to Roscoe, (2001) and Malakoff, (2005), reality television Shows’ are productions where persons or individuals are put in extra ordinary positions or place, their experiences are transcribed as they react to their surroundings. Reality television is comparatively new in the Nigerian broadcasting space but has been nearby since the dawn of the golden age in the continents of Europe and America. Today the genre remains widely- known and valuable and deems for half of all programming on both broadcast and cable, generating an estimated 6 billion dollars in yearly revenue (DeVolld, 2019). Reality television practically has some profit-making benefits to television houses or stations but criticized for promoting violence, sex and immoral scenes among other criticisms.

Big Brother Naija, which is the focus of this research was formerly known as Big Brother Nigeria. It is a reality TV show that is grounded on the Big Brother TV series in which 12 contestants or players live in a separated house and compete for a large cash prize of $100,000. They are continuously monitored and observed by television cameras which are placed at various or multiple corners of the house. (Ekwe et al., 2019),

Furthermore, Ekwe et al., (2019) stressed that BBN like all other Big Brother formats, has had her share of controversies or squabbles on issues regarding sex, nudity, violence, cheating and voting unfairness. The case of sexuality in BBN is critical as house mates live in the house for several weeks, fall in love and start having sex, in the bedroom and bathroom. There are several cases of house mates who were accused of sexual immorality: Nina and Miracle, Anto and Lolu for example were accused of being sexually attracted to each other. These accusations came from their fellow house mates. The sexual activities have, however, elevated a lot of moral anxieties among parents, teachers and guardians, as youths, teenagers spend most of their time seeing Big Brother Naija .(Wilfred, Grace & Joy, 2019) Consequently, exposure to big brother among other forms of entertainment and relaxation by young people, especially children, has caused some uneasiness given the potential harm this could impose on their social development (Longe et al., 2007; Okoye, 2011; Russell, 2016).

Studies have revealed that parental intervention approaches (by means of guidance and direction of child media use) has proved efficient not only lessening the contrary impact of media on youth’s collective development and growth, but has been vital in utilizing its positive impact (Clarks, 2011). Thus, this study aims to highlight parental intervention on negative effects of entertainment media on children in Lagos Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Ever since the establishment of Big Brother Naija was, it has remained a platform for Nigerians from various spheres of the nation to showcase their cultural heritage and to boost unity in the country. it appears that the reality TV show (BBN) has also been advocating immorality or profligacy through the display of improper and or indecent scenes. The BBN displays sexual frolics, insults and adult content on open cameras thus, raising moral questions.

Media use by youth has often prompted concerns given that, fear from their mind can render them(youth) much more at risk or vulnerable to harm emerging from media content such a s big brother naija. (Daramola, 2003). This worry has given rise to bids by parents, wards to regulate the use of media by children via measures like hampering content that can be live during family belt periods and classifying films, reality Tv shows as not suitable for children (Mba, 2006).

Several studies have been conducted regarding media effect in general, but rarely have studies been carried out on the negative influence of the reality TV show; Big brother Naija on children and the ways parents can intervene. Thus, this calls for scholarly studies.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The following are the study's objectives:

1. To find out the extent parents intervene or prevent their youth’s consumption of adult content in reality Tv shows like Big Brother Naija BBN.

2. To determine the strategies employed by parents to prevent their children from viewing of adult content on Big Brother Naija.

3. To determine the effectiveness of the strategies adopted by the parents in shielding their children from viewing adult content on Big Brother Naija.

4. To investigate other factors that can affect parental intervention on their youth viewing of Big Brother Naija.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Because of the study's goal, the following research questions are required.

1. To what extent do parents intervene or prevent their children from viewing adult content on. BBN ?

2. What are the strategies parents employ to prevent their children from viewing the adult content of BBN ?

3. Are the strategies been employed by the parents effective in shielding their children from viewing adult content on BBN?

4. Are the factors that can affect parental intervention on their youth viewership of BBN?