Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study
AbstractIncreasingly, social media has become a major source of fake news, with disinformation used as a tool in manipulating public opinion and delegitimizing opposing voices. This study explores the influence of the content of social media on traditional media, and the proliferation of disinformat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2023.2216983 |
| _version_ | 1797423576253464576 |
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| author | Idayat Hassan |
| author_facet | Idayat Hassan |
| author_sort | Idayat Hassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractIncreasingly, social media has become a major source of fake news, with disinformation used as a tool in manipulating public opinion and delegitimizing opposing voices. This study explores the influence of the content of social media on traditional media, and the proliferation of disinformation in the context of elections and accountability in Nigeria. Data were collected from 60 interviews and 18 focus group discussions with key stakeholders across Nigeria’s geo-political zones. The result shows the content of social media as shaping traditional media in addition to exacerbating pre-existing ethnic and religious tensions. The study recommends strengthening the positive elements of social media to weaken the threat posed by digital disinformation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:49:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97e696e21dd2464081f20422bfb0b14c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1983 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:49:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-97e696e21dd2464081f20422bfb0b14c2023-12-03T02:14:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Arts & Humanities2331-19832023-12-0110110.1080/23311983.2023.2216983Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory studyIdayat Hassan0Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja, NigeriaAbstractIncreasingly, social media has become a major source of fake news, with disinformation used as a tool in manipulating public opinion and delegitimizing opposing voices. This study explores the influence of the content of social media on traditional media, and the proliferation of disinformation in the context of elections and accountability in Nigeria. Data were collected from 60 interviews and 18 focus group discussions with key stakeholders across Nigeria’s geo-political zones. The result shows the content of social media as shaping traditional media in addition to exacerbating pre-existing ethnic and religious tensions. The study recommends strengthening the positive elements of social media to weaken the threat posed by digital disinformation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2023.2216983Disinformationfake newssocial media regulation |
| spellingShingle | Idayat Hassan Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study Cogent Arts & Humanities Disinformation fake news social media regulation |
| title | Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study |
| title_full | Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study |
| title_short | Dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in Nigeria: An exploratory study |
| title_sort | dissemination of disinformation on political and electoral processes in nigeria an exploratory study |
| topic | Disinformation fake news social media regulation |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2023.2216983 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT idayathassan disseminationofdisinformationonpoliticalandelectoralprocessesinnigeriaanexploratorystudy |