PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE TWITTER #HASHTAG ACTIVISM IN ENGENDERING POLITICAL CHANGE IN NIGERIA

Obiajulu Joel Nwolu, Chiemezie Chukwuka Ugochukwu, Chika Onyinye Nnabuife

Abstract


Twitter is renowned for its #hashtag feature often utilized by tweets to drive home topical issues and raise public attention to a course. This feature has been used in no small measure by Nigerian Twitter users to engender political change and hold political office holders accountable to the people. Some political office holders in Nigerian have been clamouring for the regulation of social media given its far-reaching potential devoid of restriction of time and place. These calls were necessitated by the realization of the all-powerful role of Twitter in upholding democratic principles. The #EndSARS, #PantamiResginNow and others were an eye openers on the effectiveness of social media in the hands of users. This study, therefore, examines the public view of the effectiveness of the #hashtag activism in engendering political change in Nigeria. The researchers used the survey research method to obtain primary data from respondents while the available literature served as secondary data. Technological determinism theory and agenda setting theory were used. The study found among others that the respondents view Twitter as an effective tool to entrench accountability in governance and laudable for generating public opinion. The study recommends that Twitter should be utilized by the government for youth mobilization and to galvanize youths for political participation.  


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