Investigating the Users' Perception of Social Media Amplification of Political Crisis and Power Tussle Discourse in Nigeria
https://doi.org/10.56225/ijassh.v4i1.399
Keywords:
Communication, Conflicts, Knowledge, New Media, Politics, TechnologyAbstract
The advent of social media also came with numerous communicative and information-dissemination opportunities. The platforms are highly interactive, offering easy access to users worldwide. Consequently, numerous negative phenomena, including political crises, are amplified. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate users’ perceptions of how social media amplifies political crises and power tussle discourse in Nigeria. The researchers relied on survey and quantitative data collection techniques through administration of online questionnaire link targeting 384 Lagos residents. However, the study recorded 85% response rate as 328 respondents provide responses to the survey. Survey findings revealed that various social media platforms amplify political crises and power tussles, with memes being a particularly prominent medium across platforms. Furthermore, findings also showed that social media has significantly high impact on public opinion formation among users with speed of information-dissemination being the most glaring factor that ensures the effectiveness of platforms in amplifying political crises and power tussle discourse. Researchers concluded that social media platforms play the role of effective information dissemination channels but also act as polarising media, recommending that digital media literacy is imperative to ensure that platforms are not used to promote negatives such as fake news and misinformation whereupon political crisis thrives.
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