Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality television program has become a prevailing popular cultural phenomenon in Nigeria, with massive media coverage, audience accessibility and sturdy fan followership. Of all the scenes in BBNaija’s screen, the Thursday pool and Saturday night parties have more memos of immorality expressed through erotic dance styles, excessive alcohol consumption, partial nudity, adult conversations, flirtations, and suggestive sexual intimacies. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which these contents contribute to moral decadence of underage viewers. This study is analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, using questionnaire items administered on 218 randomly selected students and teachers, with a structured interview on parents. Social Learning and Cultivation Theories were used to establish that constant exposure to licentious behaviours affect underage viewers’ moral perception. Though BBNaija program is designed for adult entertainment, however, children’s unfettered access to these persuasive contents via social media platforms raises timely concern. These parties have increasingly fore-grounded sexual immorality and youthful leisure aesthetics to the level of acceptance as standard contemporary behaviour, which contradicts the traditional and religious ethical concept of Nigerians. It concludes that while the motifs of the showbiz targets visibility and stardom of housemates, at the same time, the morally ambiguous and profligate contents could derail value systems, and weaken self-control of children who could replicate the actions. The paper recommends stringent broadcasting regulations, parental intervention and reorientation of entertainment media towards artistically grounded principles, in order to dispel moral and psychological deficiencies among minors. 

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