International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: In today’s era of advanced technology and pervasive Internet access, young individuals increasingly engage in digital intimacy, particularly through the exchange of intimate content such as nude pictures. With the widespread use of social media platforms and messaging applications, this behaviour has become routine among undergraduates, raising concerns about how such practices shape their perception of morality.
Objective: This study appraised the relationship between digital intimacy and undergraduates’ perception of morality, drawing on Social Learning Theory and Cultivation Theory as its theoretical framework.
Method: A mixed-method approach, combining a key informant interview and a survey research design was employed. The study population comprised 1,480 undergraduates of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State. A multi-stage sampling technique (simple random, systematic and purposive) was used, and Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling formula informed the sample size of 302 survey respondents and one key informant interviewee. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test.
Result: The findings indicate that 71% of respondents engaged in sharing nude pictures. Peer pressure emerged as the strongest motivator, while entertainment was identified as the main reason for their involvement in digital intimacy. The t-test results indicated no significant relationship between frequency of social media use and the sharing of nude pictures.
Conclusion: The study concludes that digital intimacy is widely practised among undergraduates; however, the absence of a significant relationship between social media use frequency and nude-picture sharing suggests that motivations may be shaped more by social and psychological factors than by digital exposure alone.
Unique Contribution: This study offers context-specific evidence from a Nigerian university setting, demonstrating how peer influence and entertainment motives drive digital intimacy while revealing the complex interplay between digital behaviour and moral perception among young people. Key Recommendations: Government agencies should implement and enforce strong digital-privacy and consent-protection policies. Institutional policymakers should also provide structured educational interventions that address the risks and moral implications of digital intimacy, particularly the sharing of nude images.