This article was originally published as: EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN PROMOTING INSECURITY AND PROPAGANDA IN NIGERIA
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Abstract
The Social Media platform is one of the means of disseminating information which is seen as the fastest way of spreading information globally. It has reengineered social interaction among peers, businesses, governments and so on. However, the miss-use of social media among handlers to advance their motives has no doubt, increase the level of global insecurity. Thus, this study examines the effect of Social Media in Promoting Insecurity and Propaganda using Facebook, X and WhatsApp as a case study. The study specifically looks at the extent in which Facebook and X integrate Nigerian into global security awareness and otherwise. The study utilizes secondary data sourced through books, academic journals, online sources among other documents. The study is anchored on the theory of uses and gratifications theory which emphasized how people use media to fulfill their various needs. The findings of the study revealed among others that even though neither Facebook, X nor WhatsApp can be regarded as the root cause of national insecurity in Nigeria, but they contributed a lot to the national insecurity witnessing in some parts of Nigeria due to it misused by the handlers. It was also discovered that the regulation of social media in Nigeria for security purpose is very poor, which is a matter of concern to the citizens. The study recommends among others that individuals (citizens) should stop spreading, and promoting offensive, abusive, fake news (information), which advances social hatred, and terrorism attack rumors on social media platforms.
Authors
- ABDULWAHAB ABDULKABIR (BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO, NIGERIA)
- NURUDEEN SOLA IBRAHIM (BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO, NIGERIA)
Keywords
Social media, Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Insecurity
References
References not available for this article.
