Leveraging Social Media Monitoring Platforms to Address Youth Unemployment and Crime-Driven Insecurity Among Students in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

The dual challenges of youth unemployment and crime-driven insecurity represent critical threats to the academic stability and socioeconomic development of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). This study investigates the potential of social media monitoring platforms as a technological intervention to mitigate these issues. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study surveyed 384 undergraduate and postgraduate students across various faculties. The research examines students' usage patterns of platforms like Twitter (X), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook for security alerts and employment opportunities. It further explores the correlation between proactive social media monitoring and reductions in victimization, as well as improvements in job accessibility. Findings reveal a significant positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) between the use of verified campus monitoring channels and perceived safety. However, the study identifies a "digital trust gap," where students are skeptical of official channels due to misinformation. Regarding unemployment, 62% of respondents reported accessing gig economy opportunities through informal monitoring groups, yet structural unemployment remains high. The study concludes that while social media monitoring is a potent tool for real-time situational awareness and networking, its efficacy is hampered by the lack of a centralized, verified digital framework. Recommendations include the establishment of a UNN-integrated digital security hub and a verified employment linkage bot to streamline information dissemination.