IMPACT OF TWITTER BAN ON ONLINE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
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IMPACT OF TWITTER BAN ON ONLINE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Over the years, social media has been described as a form of human connection in which people produce, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.
The growing popularity of social media platforms has given rise to new digital social networks in which people can engage and share information, news, and ideas at unprecedented speed and simplicity.
As a result, the usage of such technologies looks to have the potential to modify current social configurations and relationships (including the public and civic spheres).
Much emphasis has been placed in the social sciences on conceptualising the role of social media in modern society (Mossberger, Tolbert, & McNeal, 2008; Trottier, 2012), as well as the interrelationships between online and offline actors, institutions, events, and political and social change (Edwards, Housley, Williams, Sloan, Williams, 2013).
According to Edwards et al. (2013), networked digital technologies are transforming mass public communications in a variety of ways, enabling not only new forms of antagonism and social fragmentation, but also deliberation, debate, civil participation, and other forms of social interaction (of which Twitter is an example).
Twitter is a free social networking microblogging website that allows registered users to publish brief updates known as tweets. Twitter users can broadcast tweets and follow other users’ tweets across numerous platforms and devices, promoting the rapid sharing of information.
Tweets and replies to tweets can be delivered by cell phone text messages, a desktop client, or by posting to the Twitter website (Gerbaudo, 2012).
In other words, Twitter encourages social contact and public participation in a wide range of human concerns. As a result of Twitter’s unfettered participatory character, the public has had several possibilities to engage with various concerns in their society.
Despite Twitter’s enormous role and prospects, numerous nations around the world have prohibited its use, including Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom, North Korea, Iran, China, and, most recently, Nigeria.
On June 5, 2021, the Nigerian government announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter’s operations in the country due to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
The unprecedented and severe decision to suspend Twitter in the country will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the country.In contrast, this study focuses on the impact of Twitter’s prohibition on online social communication.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The Nigerian Federal Government has suspended the microblogging and social networking service Twitter in Nigeria. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, announced the suspension in a statement made in Abuja on Friday, June 5, 2021, citing the platform’s continued usage for actions capable of damaging Nigeria’s corporate existence. (Aljezeera.com).
According to Ajezeera.com, over 39 million Nigerians have Twitter accounts, which is higher than Ghana’s whole population of 32 million.
Over the years, the platform has promoted and strengthened social connection among Nigerian individuals by allowing them to discuss social and political issues, share educational material, and many other topics. According to Emmanuel Alumona, who spoke with Aljezeera,
“Twitter is like my newspaper. Whenever I want to check what’s going on in the country and people’s opinions, I refresh my timeline; nevertheless, it is too difficult to stomach the Twitter ban because most Nigerians like me may no longer be informed about societal events.”
Against this backdrop, this study aims to analyse the impact of the Twitter ban on social communication in Nigeria.
1.3. Objectives of the Study
The major goal of this research is to investigate the influence of the Twitter ban in Nigeria on social communication. As a result, the precise aims are listed below:
Examine whether Nigeria’s Twitter ban would hinder the country’s ability to quickly share information.
Investigate whether the Twitter ban will hinder the expression of popular thoughts and impressions about social and political concerns in the country.
Determine how the Twitter ban may effect online social interaction in Nigeria.
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