African Media Ethics and Regulation (Media/Philosophy/Social) | 10 May 2002
Qualitative Research Framework on Storytelling Apps and Sexual Harassment Awareness Amongst University Students in Nigerian Cities
C, h, i, k, e, O, b, i, o, r, a, ,, N, k, e, m, O, k, o, l, i
Abstract
Recent technological advancements have led to the proliferation of storytelling apps among university students in Nigerian cities. These platforms facilitate the sharing and consumption of various content types, including personal narratives that may contain sensitive topics such as sexual harassment. The methodology employed is a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. A total of 100 university students were surveyed using an online questionnaire assessing their awareness levels and attitudes towards sexual harassment. Additionally, 20 participants were interviewed in depth to explore the nuances of their experiences with storytelling apps. Findings indicate that a significant proportion (65%) of respondents reported encountering at least one sexual harassment story through these apps. This exposure was associated with increased awareness but also highlighted instances where students felt uncomfortable or misled by the narratives. The qualitative interviews revealed themes such as dependency on app recommendations and peer influence in shaping perceptions about sexual harassment. The quantitative data supported these insights, confirming a positive correlation between storytelling app use and enhanced sexual harassment awareness. Given the findings, it is recommended that educational institutions collaborate with developers to implement features that enhance user safety and education around sensitive content on storytelling apps. storytelling apps, university students, sexual harassment, awareness, urban Nigeria Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.