Research Articles in Mass Communication

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.nileuniversity.edu.ng/handle/123456789/117

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Start date: 2010Subject: search.filters.subject.Social Media

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    An analysis of the major factors of hate speech in the Nigerian digital environment
    (Journal of Communication and Media Research,, 2024-02-02) Suemo Shagbaor Jacob; Abdullateef Muhammed; Ahmad Murtada Busair
    Relying on the existing literature and empirical works, this study takes explorative perspective to identifying social media platforms that mostly propagate hate speech in Nigeria and some of the factors responsible for its spread. Anchored on the assumptions of the technological determinism theory and based on secondary data in the literature, this study found Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter as the mostly used digital channels for hate speech among Nigerians. It was also found that explosion of hate speech on social media were factored by political interests and freedom of speech as well as ethnic and religious sentiments. it is therefore suggested that the menace of hate speech on social media can be mitigated if the Nigerian government could come up with anti-hate laws and proactive counter-statements policy through the instrumentation of Nigerian Communication Commission and the National Orientation Agency.
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    Patterns of the Influence of Social Media Reports of Coronavirus on the Residents of Select Cities in Nigeria
    (2020-02-02) Suemo Shagbaor Jacob; Ayabam B. Nyiete; Ternenge Kusugh
    This study is an examination of the patterns of the influence of social media reports on coronavirus on users in select Nigerian cities. Mixed research design comprising quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted with the questionnaire and interview guide schedule used as the research instruments. Thus, a sample size of 1,111 respondents was statistically determined and proportionately distributed across the sampled cities (Bauchi, Kano, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Awka and Lagos respectively). The findings showed that acceptance of facemasks, personal responsibility in adherence to coronavirus prevention protocols, increased sensitivity to symptoms of the virus, enhanced social distancing and improved hygiene consciousness among the people were the various patterns of influence of social media reports on coronavirus among sampled respondents. The findings further showed that some mediating variables such as knowledge level, cultural values, traditional and religious beliefs and individual interests were core in propelling the effect process of socially-mediated coronavirus reports among the study population. Thus, the researchers concluded that a significant relationship exists between coronavirus reports on social media and behaviour change among Nigerians. The researchers, therefore, recommended a coordinated tactical approach to the conception and production of social media reports on coronavirus with a view to ensuring that only fairly objective, accurate and credible sourced reports are transmitted about the virus on social media to help identify a point of convergence across the identified patterns of effects.