Power to the People: Social Media as a Catalyst for Political Participation in Nigeria

Adeniyi W. K. Bello, Kelly Kaufhold

Source Title: International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies (IJICST)12(1)

ISSN: 2155-4218|EISSN: 2155-4226|EISBN13: 9781683182382|DOI: 10.4018/ijicst.320652

MLA

Bello, Adeniyi W. K., and Kelly Kaufhold. "Power to the People: Social Media as a Catalyst for Political Participation in Nigeria." IJICST vol.12, no.1 2023: pp.1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijicst.320652

APA

Bello, A. W. & Kaufhold, K. (2023). Power to the People: Social Media as a Catalyst for Political Participation in Nigeria. International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies (IJICST), 12(1), 1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijicst.320652

Chicago

Bello, Adeniyi W. K., and Kelly Kaufhold. "Power to the People: Social Media as a Catalyst for Political Participation in Nigeria," International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies (IJICST) 12, no.1: 1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijicst.320652

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Abstract

This study examined the role of social media in activating civic engagement and political participation among Nigerian citizens by age. It used a substantial secondary data set from the Afrobarometer Index (N=45,823 from 34 African countries; N=1,600 respondents across Nigeria) to examine the relationship between getting news via social media, and how it predicted civic engagement and political participation. Consuming news on social media significantly predicted civic engagement with family and neighbors and increased political participation from contacting a government official to joining a political party to voting. Young Nigerians were the most likely to get news via social media but the least likely to vote.