Internet Utilisation and Abuses in Selected Cybercafés in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Internet provides numerous resources and services that enable communication, information sharing and improved research, innovation and productivity. However, alongside the positive uses of the Internet are also negative uses, which are of growing concern. This study investigated perceptions and experiences of positive and negative uses of the Internet among users of cybercafés in Ogun State Nigeria. Using survey research design and stratified random sampling technique, a questionnaire was designed and used to collect data from 765 Internet users and managers of 24 cybercafés selected by stratified sampling technique. The results showed that the major reasons for positive Internet uses are exchanging e-mail (85.1%), searching for research materials (68%), and web browsing and chatting (58.6%). Major users of the Internet in the cybercafés were students of higher institutions, job seekers, unemployed graduates, lecturers and other workers in higher institutions, secondary school students, and school leavers. These users reported that they had observed or been the targets of the following kinds of negative uses of the Internet: online fraud and deception (78% of the them), pornography (70.6%), chatting with dubious intent (64.7%), unauthorised access to files (55.6%), posting of provocative and sexually suggestive photographs (54%), spamming (51.8%), overuse/addiction (51.5%), and use of harmful influence sites (50.6%). Respondents reported that Internet abusers were mainly students of higher institutions, unemployed graduates, school leavers, students in secondary school, and job seekers. The study recommends Internet education campaigns, Internet use policies, and monitoring and access control measures to combat Internet abuses in the country.