Social Media and Political Participation of Nigerian Youths in the 2023 General Election

Abstract

Social media has evolved into a significant tool for initiating political discourse and fostering political engagement, particularly among youth, influencing their intention to participate in elections. This study aimed to analyse the level of political use of social media among Nigerian youth during the 2023 general elections and their level of political engagement as a result of social media usage. This study employed a quantitative research design, utilizing a survey to investigate the impact of social media use on the political engagement of Nigerian youth at the University of Ibadan and Lead City University, Ibadan, during the 2023 general elections. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 750 students and active social media users in the selected Universities. Questionnaires were administered for data collection. The findings reveal a high proportion of passive political engagement among youths on social media, characterized by consuming political content and engaging in informal discussions, with limited active involvement, such as campaigning, contacting officials, or joining political groups. The study concludes that while social media has expanded access to political discourse, it has not yet transformed into deep, consistent participation. It recommends targeted civic education and youth-focused digital engagement strategies to bridge this gap.