Chisom Ijere's article explores the implications of Covid-19 lockdown on media consumption patterns, particularly on how youths consume media during and after the pandemic. Covid-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from the common cold to more severe respiratory problems. The virus was first identified in China at a food market where live wild animals were sold. The pandemic has ravaged and paralyzed the global economy, leading to lockdown and social distancing policies that have resulted in the cancellation of live events and festivals and significantly affected global workers and citizens.

As people spend more time at home, their media consumption patterns have been significantly influenced by the pandemic. Streaming services, online news, social media, television, and radio have seen an increase in viewership, as people seek information and entertainment to combat the boredom and stress of the pandemic. A report from Vanguard shows that social media consumption spiked by 61% with the first week of lockdown seeing an 87% increase. According to Business Day news media, over 52% of 25,000 consumers surveyed in Nigeria and other countries regarded traditional forms of media such as broadcast and print as a reliable source.

The article emphasizes the potential impact of lockdowns on youth media consumption behavior, specifically on platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter. Pandemic-induced confinement has caused a range of psychological issues, including panic attacks, anxiety, sadness, and post-traumatic stress disorders, among other symptoms. Young people have experienced significant disruptions to their education with the closure of schools and universities, leading to unprecedented stress and uncertainty. According to UNICEF, one in every six young people aged 15 to 24 reported being frequently sad, having little interest in activities, or being anxious or apprehensive. Furthermore, the youth unemployment rate had risen to 30.1% in Nigeria, exacerbating existing problems.

In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have transformed the patterns of media consumption across the world, significantly affecting young people's habits and behaviors. As the world continues to fight the pandemic, it is critical to keep monitoring and understanding the effects of the pandemic on youth media consumption.

The use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic had a dual impact, both helping to spread true and false information about the virus. In Nigeria, social media has become an essential tool for communication and news for many people, especially among digitally-savvy teens with widespread access to mobile devices. Personal stories and experiences related to the pandemic have been shared on social media, raising awareness about its impact on individuals and communities. Health organizations and governments have also used these platforms to share official guidelines and updates related to COVID-19. The advent of social media has transformed the way news sources engage with individuals, resulting in increased information transmission to larger audiences. The pandemic has significantly increased social media engagement in Nigeria.

During the pandemic, the media had an unprecedented power in Nigeria due to the government's lockdown measures. The first reported COVID-19 case in the country was announced via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and various websites, making it easy to disseminate this information to a large number of Nigerians. Health agencies such as the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) used social media channels to inform the public about the number of positive cases, deaths, and recoveries in the country.

TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram are among the most popular social media platforms today. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, bought musical.ly in 2017 for $1 billion. In 2020, TikTok recorded over 315 million downloads around the world, coinciding with a time when many people were stuck at home and turned to social media to stay connected with others. Twitter has been around since 2006, allowing users to express themselves through tweets in various formats. Instagram, which was purchased by Facebook in 2012, has become a well-known household brand, particularly popular among teenagers for sharing photos and videos with friends and followers. Small businesses also use Instagram as a marketing and promotion tool.

In summary, social media has been a significant force during the pandemic, both in terms of spreading information and keeping people connected. Its impact on society has been far-reaching, with increased engagement and the transformation of traditional news sources. The popularity of platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram highlights the vital role social media plays in our daily lives and its potential for growth in the future.

The rampant spread of false information concerning COVID-19 too was facilitated by the public's dependence on social media as their primary source of intel during the pandemic. Social media played a key role in disseminating information ranging from symptomology to prevention (Mahmood QK et al.). Although it helped inform the public about the disease's distribution and how isolation and quarantine could keep individuals from contracting the virus (Ulaş S), it also caused disorientation amongst the populace, giving rise to anxiety by circulating unscientific and unauthentic coronavirus news through instant messaging platforms. The Magic Bullet theory explains how people received whatever information was put out there, both factual and false, as the media has a direct impact on viewers.

The Media System Dependency Theory (MSDT) highlights the close-knit relationship between media and society and how the media shapes people's perceptions, influencing our behaviour. It was coined by Melvin Defleur and Sandra Ball-Rokeach. This theory underscores the fact that modern society relies on media to grasp the world around them. The primary focus of the theory is on the interaction between media and audiences. The COVID-19 pandemic saw an unprecedented increase in media consumption as people turned to news sources and social media to stay abreast of the latest developments and seek human connection (Ball-Rokeach, 1985, p. 495). The MSDT attributes this rise in media consumption as a consequence of the pandemic, leading to increased dependence on the media for information and social connections. There have been studies that show how humans are now more reliant on media than before, such as the shift from attending physical church to joining online services.

Therefore, in times of a crisis, social media is increasingly relied upon. However, caution must be exercised while consuming information through these platforms to avoid misleading news. MSDT postulates that the media's coverage of the pandemic played a role in shaping public opinion and behaviour, including endorsing the use of face masks, social distancing and other measures to rein in the virus.

Ultimately, MSDT highlights the interdependent relationship between media and society, emphasising the role of media in shaping public opinion and behaviour during crises.

The article titled "Practical Implications of Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 on Hospital Operations, Board Certification, and Medical Education in Surgery in the USA" by Fong et al. (2020) discusses the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare systems, professional education, and certification in the United States. The study emphasizes the need for adaptability and innovation in the face of the pandemic.

Akinwale and Onokala (2022) provide a behavioral perspective on social media in Nigeria in the time of crisis and COVID-19. The authors analyze the impact of social media on society during this period and explore whether it is a curse or a blessing. The study aims to examine the relationship between social media use, self-efficacy, perceived threat, and preventive behavior in Pakistan (Mahmood et al., 2021). The authors found that social media can play an important role in promoting preventive behavior.

According to the article by Ulaş (2021), social media plays a crucial role in disseminating information during a crisis such as COVID-19. The author highlights the importance of social media in providing accurate and timely information to the public and promoting awareness about preventive measures.

Ball-Rokeach and DeFleur (1976) proposed a dependency model of mass-media effects by analyzing the relationship between the audience, the media, and their effects. The model postulates that people's dependency on the media varies depending on their social and cultural background, and their communication needs.

Finally, Faiswal Kasirye (2021) discusses media dependency during a crisis, using the example of COVID-19 in Malaysia. The study aims to analyze how people rely on the media during a crisis and how this affects their behavior and actions. The study emphasizes the need for accurate and timely information dissemination through the media during such an event.

In conclusion, these studies provide insights into the role of media, including social media, during the COVID-19 crisis and how it affects healthcare systems, professional education, and the general public. The studies highlight the importance of accurate and timely information dissemination and promote preventive behavior to combat the spread of the virus and its impact on society.