The Influences of Facebook on High School Students’ Pattern of Social Life: The Case of Harar City

In today’s world, it seems that social media and youngsters are destined for each other as both are young, fast paced and ever changing. It has become very challenging to cultivate and socialize youngsters with patterned social norms due to the influences of media like television and Facebook. Educators are challenged more seriously than ever before to teach youngster, as students are using Facebook at school and home. The aim of this study was to investigate the multifaceted influences of Facebook on youth's pattern of social life. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were employed to collect the data. Questionnaire, interview schedule and key informant interviews were data collection tools used to collect the quatitative and qualitative data respectively. The study founded that, Facebook is a social medium that discourages social bond in one way and encourages in the other way. By networking peers online, it enhances strong affiliation among Facebook friends while by letting them ignore people who are nearby, it debilitates face to face to face personal interactions. Anonymous Facebook users can meet in ‘chat rooms’ and discuss on topics of their choices with the person they do not know before and this type of electronic friendship and interaction may grow up and leads to virtual physical face-to-face contacts. Facebook is therefore, a platform for youths to discuss and interact on the issues of mutual curiosity which could enhance and promote synchronization of friends on the one side and inflammatory rhetoric conflicts on the other side, which implies the inevitable and multidimensional influences of Facebook on the youth’s social life.


INTRODUCTION
Over the last decade daily experiences of youngsters have been transformed by developments in social media. These media are daily tools of communication, information dissemination and amusement for the majority of young people. It is timely issue to study the potential hazards and constructive contributions accompanied with the advancement of these technologies on the youngsters' social life (Boyd and Ellison 2007).
Most people accept the idea that media can influence people. But, the degree of that influence, as well as who is most-influenced and why, by which medium have been the subjects of controversy among many scholars for long.
Facebook is a social medium that enables sending and receiving of messages across the world. Hence, youths have access to a lot of information. They are exposed all the time to information meant for adults or other groups in a medium inaccessible to many parents or teachers that may shape them in unforeseen traditions. Owing to its far reaching social identity impacts Facebook turn out to be a big concern (Baym, Zhang, and Lin 2004). The exposure of teenagers to such pictures, movies and others may result in socializing them to accept those things as normal. That is why (Merten and

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Williams 2009) said 'it has become imperative for consultant to understand the role of media exposure on children in order to diagnose and treat behavioral problems as well as to prevent further tragedies'. So, Facebook has attracted much attention from parents, educators, social scientists, religious leaders and all those who are concerned with societal norms and values (Simon 2006).
On the other hand, Facebook provides an ability to communicate with people worldwide, more easily and regularly. It helps the user to send and receive messages to and from anybody in any part of the world within a matter of seconds.
The growing accessibility of internet through cell phones and other devices allow people to quickly and easily increase their knowledge on a broad range of topics (Warschauer, Turbee, and Roberts 1995). Therefore, Facebook has many positive effects too if properly used. Facebook is a problem when youngsters are left to themselves in using it without adequate supervision and guidance from family and significant others. Because, Facebook is not merely a boon that leaves our youth more socially connected, rather as many voices warn it may affect the quality of face to face personal interactions (Anderson and Bushman 2001).
Behavior in young is caused by a number of factors. It is sociological fact that, culture and other social structural components are some of the factors that are behind the way the youths dress, talk, walk and act. But, in this study the influences of Facebook on youths' pattern of social life and interaction is given due attention (Hutchins 2011). Researcher has amassed a vast amount of literatures on what do researchers made about how youth use Facebook and about how that uses influences their social life. But previous investigations ayouthre scanty in numbers and academic focused. So, the main objective of this study was to assess the influences of Facebook on the youngsters' pattern of social life as youths are the future hopes of the country (Neuhaus and Webmoor 2012).
Novelty in this research is that there are various solutions for the use of Facebook and social media for the younger generation. In previous studies there were some who explained the positive position, so also there were those that produced negative effects. Facebook is a communication medium that blocks social ties in one way and pushes it in another. By making friends online, this increases strong affiliation among Facebook friends while by letting them ignore the people around them, it weakens face-to-face personal social relationships.

METHODS
The study was conducted on high school students of Harar city. Harar city is the capital of Harari people's regional state. The city is located at a distance of 526 kms from Addis Ababa in the eastern part of Ethiopia. Harar urban morphology presents two main parts: the ancient city and the recent one that has entrenched lately. The ancient walled city named Jugal has a high population density on an area of 62 hectares with internal differences of level ranging from 0 to 60 meters which is a root for the expansion of lately emerged city parts (Jackson and Lilleker 2011).
Harar is a spectacular city in that it is a miniature of Ethiopia as peoples

Map of the Study Area. Source: Constructed by GIS expert
This study employed a mixed (both quantitative and qualitative) research approach. The rationale behind employing mixed approach was that, when used in combination, quantitative and qualitative methods complement each other and allow for more complete analysis. Indeed, large size of the students coupled with the nature of the subject of study demanded both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection (Nasution 2014).
From quantitative methods of data collection, the researcher used cross sectional survey design which helped to address large size of students through samples at a onetime contact. From qualitative methods, case study was used to collect detailed information from the well informed students about the influences of Facebook (Flad 2010).
Quantitative data were collected through questionnaire and interview schedule primarily from the selected high school students and households.
Questionnaire was administered to 334 students whereas, 19 households were selected for interview schedule from different kebeles of the city (Ostrom, Tiebout, and Warren 1961). On the other hand, qualitative data were collected using key informant interviews from the well-informed students about the influences of Facebook. Three key informant interviews were made with selected students from each three high schools. Other pertinent respondents like teachers, youth officer and peers outside the school were also interviewed to the data saturation points. Secondary data were also collected by visiting Facebook profiles of some students through secondary analysis (Boyd 2007).
The target population of this study was high school students from the selected high schools of Harar city. So, mainly students who were admitted to high schools were the target of this research. There are eleven high schools (eight public and three private) in Harar city. From these, three of them (one private and two public) have preparatory programs while the rest of them are up to grade ten.
The sample for this work is therefore, taken from three purposively selected high schools of the city. The main reason for selecting three high schools was that these schools are different from each other in terms of location and other related factors (Newman 2008). Some are at the center of the city where the majority of students are from the city and have parents who follow their education and some others are Facebook influences on the students of different schools which motivated the researcher to choose three different high schools out of the existing 11 high schools (Dorothy, Singer, and Jerome 2001).
Thus, Aboker High School from public schools in the center of the city, Lutheran High School from private/religious schools, and Hamaressa High School from the outskirts of the city were selected for the study.
Sample size was determined using both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Students were startified according to their grade levels to analyze the relationship between educational status and youths' social behavior which results from Facebook influences (Achmad and Ida 2018). From each strata sample were selected randomly to see the differences of Facebook influence on different students. Attendance sheet of each class were accessed from their teachers and used to pick randomly the anticipated sample respondents. According to the 2015/16 data obtained from Harari Regional bureau, the total number of students in the selected three high schools was 2057 (Lassen and Brown 2011).
From this, the sample size was computed using Slovin's formula as follows: n= N is the sample size determination formula from the total students (slovin's formula)

Sample Size of Each Stratum
Stratified sampling was supplemented with purposive sampling design to reach the parents of the students. The logic behind using purposive sampling technique was to collect data through interview from households having young student in their family members (Al-Dheleai and Tasir 2017). Hence, 19 households who have youth in their family members were selected purposively for the interview. That means, in the interest of time and resources only 19 households (one household from each Kebele of the city) were selected based on their knowledge of Facebook and availability of young students in the family members (Jack and Tim 2006).
Moreover, to conduct a key informant interview with the students who highly utilize Facebook, purposive sampling was used to identify the students based on prior information gathered whether they highly use or not. Then one key informant interview was conducted with one student from each school for the sake of comparative analysis between the students of different schools. Teachers, youth officers and peers were also reached through purposive sampling technique (Jannah, Handayani, Yuswadi, and Hidayat 2019).
In this study, descriptive statistics like percentage were used to analyze the collected data. Qualitative data were analyzed through preliminary exploration of the data by reading through the transcripts, listening records, and writing memos; coding the data by segmenting and labeling the text; using codes to develop themes by aggregating similar codes together; connecting and interrelating themes and constructing a narration. Qualitative data analysis involved developing a detailed description of each Facebook influences. Furthermore, data were comprehensively analyzed supplementing quantitative data by the qualitative data (Perse 1998).

Influences of Facebook on the Students' Pattern of Social Interaction.
Facebook is a medium of communication that mediates communicators within a few seconds. Today, physical presence of communicators is not compulsory to convey a message to one another. Cyber contact simplified sending and receiving of messages from different corners of the world within a short period of time.
Particularly, Facebook is the most popular social medium that makes two ways communications possible between friends on the issues of communicators' mutual interest. So, Facebook is influential on user's mode of interaction specifically in the society where personal bond is powerful. The following data indicates how Facebook is influencing the styles of youngsters' interaction (Mcguire 1986). The way students arrange appointment with their friends

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As indicated in the table 2 above, 35% of the respondents used to arrange appointments with their friends through face to face personal contacts. This means, youths with less exposure to latest technology still depends heavily on face-to-face personal contacts to meet each other (Damayanti and Hidayat 2019).
This does not mean that they are totally away from mediated communication rather they overwhelmingly depend on face-to-face contacts than mediated ones.
Mediated communication like Facebook is a recent phenomenon that came to be practiced among some youths with the likely chance to be extensively adopted and practiced by the mass (Lazarsfeld, Merton, and Wright 1984 From the above statement, one can understand that the availability of Wi-Fi area in Aboker preparatory school is a contributing factor to students' use of Facebook anytime they need. The availability of internet connection attracts youngsters to recurrently visit their Facebook and exchange ideas on the issues of their choices. People scape stress by keeping in touch with friends online.
Facebook is entertaining for youth to bear with it. It is used to exchange any messages whether personal or official with freedom. Facebook is a means by which youth's update themselves with info of their friends via chat. Chatting on Facebook is therefore, the most purpose Facebook is utilized among some youths in the study setting. So, it is a potential challenge to face-to-face personal interactions.
On the other hand, about 14% of the respondents indicated that they depend on phone call and texts to arrange meeting with their friends. Only few percentages of the respondents indicated that they depend on email and other   people who are nearby, it discourages intimate face to face social relationships (Shahzad 2013

Facebook group membership
As stated in the table 4 above, more than half the respondents belong to different groups on Facebook. This means, an individual Facebook user may create initially online groups that significant others whom name given for the group best describes join and become group members or join already created groups (Abramowitz and Webster 2016). One of the respondents responded that: I am a member of Facebook groups such as Harar lijoch, Arsenal group, orthodox tewahido lijoch, yemariayam lijoch, Aboker high school, funny group, and others that I can't remember now. I receive different information from these group networks. I reflect my support to my group and opposition or loathing to counter groups by liking, commenting, sharing, blocking and posting on these groups' pages.
The above data reveals that a youth tied by Facebook network develops a sense of oneness and belongingness towards each other. They share and exchange messages that best describes their groups than individual. Therefore, we can understand from this that Facebook is one means of alliance and creating team spirit among the youth users. It contributes a lot to the strengthening of social networks (Huff 2001).

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On the other way, Facebook is a scapegoat for the creation of aversion between different groups through posting the messages that reflects hatred towards one another. In this context Facebook is a platform to strengthen the solidarity among particular Facebook group members in their opposition against the opponents. For instance, researcher came across "orthodox group" versus "Protestant group" during secondary data analyses which were created to forward contentious ideas against each other. Plenty of analogous groups are there to intensify debates, disagreements and virtual conflicts between different groups.
Despite its advantage of creating unity among one group members, Facebook can leads to protracted discontents between members of different groups. In fact, Facebook is serving as a new form of online social interaction in one way or another, as conflict is also one-way people act and react towards each other beyond peaceful exchanges. So, Facebook is a latest medium of communication that may either enhance or constrain social cohesion among and between different groups (Greenberg 1993   Electronic harassment Facebook is not only a means of peaceful interaction rather a means of conflict manifestation between users (Singh 2014). One of the informants said that: An individual quarreled with others write a text, upload photos/movies or any other messages that describe his/her feeling towards the counter group. By using a false name or by using others' name, it is possible to talk and exchange ideas with new or familiar friends. Sometimes the manipulated photos of politicians are posted fused with the pictures of donkeys, dogs and other animals using technological edition (photo shopping) on Facebook. Facebook is among the devices youths used to campaign against the government.
Action and counter reaction that leads to interaction between Facebook friends could be positive or negative. Positively, youths discuss and interact on the issues of mutual curiosity which could enhance and promote synchronization of friends. Negatively, some other youths use Facebook to express their disgust towards each other. Post of repugnant messages against politician, celebrities and famous people is a vivid witness of harassments perpetrated on Facebook (Rose 1998). It is also evident to see mobilization and movements made by high school students through Facebook against the government and the existing system. For example, in 2016 movement against the Ethiopian government, youngsters were the forefront and active participants of the Facebook mobilization. It came to be a new form of movement against a system that is considered inept. So, it is possible to describe Facebook as inflammatory rhetoric weapon, means of revolution and harassment in this 21 st century. This implies that Facebook is a great tool in promoting unity among people sharing mutual goals (Spykman 1938 Table 6 above demonstrates the distribution of respondents based on the information they upload on and download from Facebook. It discloses that majority of the respondents upload and downloads photos on and from Facebook.

Information students upload on and download from Facebook
Uploading photos on once own Facebook page is a common practice youths undergo to receive like and comments from their Facebook friends. One informant stated that: Emerging youngsters are busy with decorating photos on Facebook. Youth overemphasis' colorful things like film celebrities, models and the successful men and women in the fields of sports, athletics, business, and politics, well adored and nude pictures, mini movies, music and other glamour things.
As it is already indicated, photos uploaded on Facebook are mostly decorated photos that attract the attention of viewers. Particularly, some photos are very inflammatory to the viewer's due to their adornments and nudity natures.
Teenagers spent a lot of time on preparing those photos, by making photo shops, editing photos and making ready for the uploads. Students waste their study time by taking photos every now and then and decorating them. Taking photos become mundane practices with different styles while eating, studying, and walking, in the school and elsewhere. It is not only time that students waste in making photos but they also contribute to the initiation of unnecessary and untimely sexual desires as the photos/pictures are nude and provocative by their appearance. Hence, Facebook often hypes the basic facts or information and presents them so as to increase the superficial appeal of things. As a result, socio-cultural values that Facebook supports and which are taking root in society in modern times are superficial and oriented towards glamour. Traditional social wisdom of strong social intimacy, cooperation, philanthropic outlook and religious value are being declining due to Facebook influences.
Romantic and sexual messages are another thing that youths used to upload on and download from Facebook. A considerable number of respondents (20%) responded that they upload and download romantic and sexual messages. It is enthusiasm for the youth to upload and see romantic picture and movies on Facebook. As one informant stated: Many youngsters who see sexual related messages initially feel shame, diminished self-confidence, and sexual uncertainty, but these feelings quickly shift to unadulterated enjoyment with regular viewing. They became eventually habited to view and practice what others do on Facebook by imitation. I feel this happen due to parents' carelessness and absence of sexual education since childhood.
The above statements reveal that youths lack sexual education and hence Cybersex is highly addictive and can lead the youth to sexually compulsive behaviors that decrease their capacity to perform other social tasks.
Researcher asked the marital status of some respondents that is filed on their Facebook profile and two of them responded that, "in open relationship, and complicated relationships" respectively. An individual habited to multi sexual partner faces the difficulty of limiting oneself to a single marriage partner. Thus, social value of marriage and family establishment like procreation declines for such youths (Demaray, Malecki, Davidson, Hodgson, and Rebus 2005).
Some other respondents upload and download information like mini movies, music, small texts, films and so forth, whereas few others upload and download spiritual pictures, sports, personal address and other related messages.
The problem with this is that it can become a traumatic experience especially with the young, as they see it more and more. Adolescents that are starting to grow and are shaping their personality, values and beliefs can lose a sense of reality on the ground (Feshbach 1972).
Some are fascinated towards entertaining messages like music, films and movies to spend their leisure time. Despite some youths are yet under the realm of family and religious influences and mood their Facebook utilization accordingly, some others are still using to upload and download violent messages that would result in typical behavior and non-normative social acts (Kabre and Brown 2011).
Coupled with the aforementioned scenario, the main problem of today's society is the growing role of family carelessness to look after immature youngsters as indicated in the above quoted data. Despite their reluctance, parents have many opportunities to influence how their children need to use Facebook.
Messaris, (1986)  There is a condition where Facebook is meant for political campaign.
Youngsters feel free to anonymously write about politicians and political systems on Facebook. Government agents can also get feedback from peoples through what is posted on Facebook. Facebook provides youth with the chance to participate in politics. This implies that the influence of Facebook medium in fostering youth's political behavior is greater than family institution in today's society (Damanik 2018     including those times in a pre-Facebook era; they would be interacting with family or friends. Hence, habituation to Facebook affects the students' potential as it is distributed to different tasks that reduce their concentration on selected activities at one time (Omolayo, Balogun, and Omole 2013). contacts. Hence, it enhances online social networks and limits face to face personal interaction.

CONCLUSIONS
Facebook is a platform for youths to discuss and interact on the issues of mutual curiosity which could enhance and promote synchronization of friends on the one side and inflammatory rhetoric conflicts on the other side. The study also came up with the conclusion that using Facebook enables youngsters to socialize themselves by their own with less influences of family and religious institutions.
Facebook often hypes the basic facts or information and presents them so as to increase the superficial appeal of things. Socio-cultural values that Facebook supports and which are taking root in today's society is superficial and oriented towards money and glamour. Youths exposed to such Facebook contents can easily imitate and mold their behaviors accordingly. Facebook can easily influence the youth to learn and become victims of experiences that they were not accustomed to before their exposure such as 'deviant sexual behavior' and values that are not tolerable in the study society. It also provides youth with the chance to participate in politics. Youngsters feel free to confidentially write about politicians and political systems on Facebook. Therefore, it is possible to say that Facebook influences on youth's social life is multidimensional and inevitable. Based on conclusions, researcher suggested the following recommendations to promote the positive influences and to reduce the negative influences of Facebook on youngsters' social life.