26: DRESS CULTURE, DIGITAL FASHION CULTURE AND THE GIRL-CHILD IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN SOCIETY: NAVIGATING IDENTITY, SELF-PRESENTATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE

Dress culture has predictably functioned as indicators of cultural identity, decency, and social communication for both individuals and communities in Nigeria. In recent times, debates surrounding the superficial contemporary dress pattern of young girls have remained contentious. Perceptibly, the emergence of digital media has contributed immensely to the drift from traditional dress culture to digital fashion culture; making appearance an important aspect of online identity construction, exhibition and affirmation. Using Social Learning and Agenda Setting Theories as analytical frameworks, and qualitative research design as methodology, it examines the glorification of some perceived ‘’outlandish’’ fashion trends on select social media platforms; where children have unrestricted access to. This goes to substantiate how popular culture, celebrity lifestyle, online communities and the desire for social acceptance steer fashion choices of young girls in Nigeria. The study opines that online perception of beauty, lifestyle presentation, and appreciation, and the confidence media personalities exude before the camera, could be considered an aberration or moral deception to growing children. Hence, protecting the girl-child in highly technological environment requires a balanced understanding of the supposed effects of the ever evolving technological devices at their disposal. However, it asserts that digital fashion culture has directly or indirectly revolutionized and complicated the dress culture of the girl-child in Nigeria. On this light, the paper recommends a strategic approach towards moral restrictions, education, media literacy, responsible parenting and cultural sensitive guidance, to redirect and support the social and moral development of the girl-child in the digital era.