Analysis of Social Media Abuse in Nigerian Politics: Is Regulation Necessary?

Abstract

Upsurge in social media use owing to internet access perhaps through mobile phones has enhanced information sharing within and outside political terrain in Nigeria but currently breeding socio-political imbroglio. Social media usage, which was much pronounced during 2015 general election and is presumed to have enhanced transparency and democratic process, has generated mixed feelings on whether it should be regulated or not. It draws a battle line between the advocates of human rights to information freedom (publics) and the protectors of human rights from information abuse (Legislators). Aiming to establish empirical justifications for or against social media misuse in the Nigerian political fold, content analysis approach was used to explore the abuse of Facebook and Twitter contents during 2015 election. With a focus on posts and tweets on the Facebook and Twitter accounts of the two major presidential aspirants (Mohammadu Buhari (APC) and Goodluck Jonathan (PDP), the abuse of the platforms was found apparent. The public obsession in social media use is considered the consequence of the platforms boundless accessibility and interactivity that merited its need to reiterate public agenda. Considering the state of the abuse, monitoring and rewriting sordid and campaign of calumny posts and twits by governments at various levels as well as concerned Nigerians, without compromising the right to free speech, can bring sanctity to the social media platforms.