Intervention strategies towards reducing social media influence on adolescent sexual behavior in Zimbabwe: A case study of Budiriro 1.
- Author
- Ndoro, Beverly
- Title
- Intervention strategies towards reducing social media influence on adolescent sexual behavior in Zimbabwe: A case study of Budiriro 1.
- Abstract
- This study investigates the influence of social media on adolescent sexual behavior in Budiriro 1, with the aim of informing the development of targeted intervention strategies to mitigate its negative effects. Grounded in an interpretive paradigm and guided by a qualitative approach, the research employed a case study design to explore the complex relationship between social media and adolescent sexual behavior in a real-world context. Data were collected through three focus group discussions and five key informant interviews, this allowed the study gain in-depth insights, opinions, motivations and ideas on the study topic. A purposive sample of 23 participants, including 18 adolescents aged 15–17 and 5 key stakeholders that includes two parents, a teacher, a health professional and a social worker, provided comprehensive explanations of the phenomenon. Findings revealed that social media significantly shapes adolescent sexual behavior by exerting pressure to conform, normalising risky sexual practices, encouraging sexual experimentation, lowering self-esteem and facilitating sexual exploitation. Adolescents were also found to adopt unsafe sexual behaviors based on misleading information encountered online. Although stakeholders acknowledged the impact of social media on adolescent sexual behavior, their responses to address the social issue were largely ineffective due to several limitations. Parents struggle due to limited digital literacy, lack of technological resources, use of punitive monitoring approaches and poor communication. Teachers face systemic barriers such as lack of media literacy in schools and inadequate restrictive measures. Health professionals are hindered by limited access to accurate online resources and limited school-based programs. Furthermore, NGOs lack comprehensive, adolescent-centered strategies and legal agencies are also constrained by lack of public awareness and inadequate child-specific online safety laws. The study concluded that addressing this issue requires a comprehensive, culturally sensitive and multi-sectoral approach. It recommends strategies including media literacy education, counselling, community led interventions, cyber law education and legal reform. Social media Safety and Awareness for Adolescents and Parents (SSAAP) model was proposed to provide a framework for coordinated and comprehensive action. Therefore, these findings underscore the importance of equipping adolescents and stakeholders with the tools to navigate social media responsibly, ultimately reducing the negative influence of social media on adolescent’s sexual behavior ensuring reduced risky sexual behaviors among adolescents.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Social Media Influence
- Adolescent Sexual Behavior
- Supervisor
- NIL
- Item sets
- Department of Social Work
- Media
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Ndoro, Beverley.pdf