Effect of Twitter Ban on Political Campaign
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of twitter ban on political campaign. Specifically it will
- Ascertain the nature of twitter ban effect on electorate political opinion in Nigeria.
- Investigate the extent to which political campaign was promoted through political parties’ twitter handle before the twitter ban in Nigeria.
- Investigate the extent to which political awareness were created through political parties’ twitter account before the twitter ban in Nigeria.
- Examine if the current twitter ban in Nigeria will affect electorates level of participation and choice of candidate in view of the upcoming 2023 general election.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media are computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks Users typically access social media services via web-based technologies on desktop computers, and laptops, or download services that offer social media functionality to their mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers). When engaging with these services, users can create highly interactive platforms through which individuals, communities and organizations can share, cocreate, discuss, and modify user-generated content or pre-made content posted online. They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between businesses, organizations, communities and individuals. Social media changes the way individuals and large organizations communicate. These changes are the focus of the emerging field of technoself studies. Social media differ from paper-based media (e.g., magazines and newspapers) or traditional electronic media such as TV broadcasting in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, interactivity, usability, immediacy, and permanence (Beth 2010).. Social media operate in a dialogic transmission system (many sources to many receivers). This is in contrast to traditional media which operates under a monologic transmission model (one source to many receivers), such as a paper newspaper which is delivered to many subscribers or a radio station which broadcasts the same programs to an entire city. Some of the most popular social media websites are Baidu Tieba, Facebook (and its associated Facebook Messenger), Gab, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Twitter, Viber, VK, WeChat, Weibo, What sApp, Wikia, and YouTube.
EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media have evolved through Web 2.0, a term coined to describe a new wave of Internet innovation that enables users to publish and exchange content online Kaplan and Haenlein (2010). Social media encompass a wide range of electronic forums, including blogs, microblogs (e.g., Twitter), social networking sites (e.g., Facebook), creative work-sharing sites (e.g., YouTube), business networking sites (e.g., LinkedIn), collaborative websites (e.g., Wikipedia), and virtual worlds (e.g., Second Life). Among these social media, social networks and microblogs are the most popular, accounting for 22.7% of all time spent online in the United States Nielsen (2014). According to Dominick (2009:283) Web 2.0 is the idea of a second generation Internet that is highly participatory, allowing users to improve it as they use it. Social media contents are primarily written and published by their users and not owners or employees of the site. For instance, most adverts, videos and pictures on Facebook and Twitter are uploaded by visitors of the sites.
Jenkins et. al observe that Web 2.0 has been growing tremendously as it facilitates the production and dissemination of information, allows for the involvements in participatory culture to share individual expressions or creations and bring people with similar interests and goals to connect with each other on blogs, social networking sites and others. Few years ago, websites were quite static and passive. There was no much interaction going on as they were mostly corporate websites.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of twitter ban on political campaign using People Democartic Party Uyo as case study. Selected twitter users who are PDP supporters in Uyo Metropolis of Akwaibom State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of twitter ban on political campaign using PDP in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as case study. The study ascertained the nature of twitter ban effect on electorate political opinion in Nigeria, investigated the extent to which political campaign was promoted through political parties’ twitter handle before the twitter ban in Nigeria, investigated the extent to which political awareness were created through political parties’ twitter account before the twitter ban in Nigeria and examined if the current twitter ban in Nigeria will affect electorates level of participation and choice of candidate in view of the upcoming 2023 general election.
Survey research design was employed for the study and with aid of convenient sampling selected Eighty (80) participant as the sample size for this study. The sources of data collection was both primary and secondary with the application of questionnaires as an instrument to gather the necessary data. The questionnaires were properly completed as well returned by only 77 respondent after being administered and this was a basis by which the primary data were collected. Primary data collated was analyzed using simple percentage, frequencies and tables and the result were similar to those of the responses drawn from the questionnaires.
CONCLUSION
Social media, over the years, has been described as a means of interaction between people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. The increasing popularity of twitter platforms has created a remarkable significance in social networking in which individuals can interact and share information, news, and opinions with unprecedented speed and ease. Tweets and replies to tweets can be sent by cell phone text messages, a desktop client or by posting on the Twitter website. In other words, Twitter promotes social interaction and public participation in various issues of human concern. As a result, the unrestricted interactive nature of Twitter has provided numerous opportunities for the public to interact with various issues in their society.
From the analyses of the study, the following conclusion were drawn:
- Twitter ban can alter the political beliefs of the electorates based on false information which is cannot be unverified via the party’s handle
- Twitter ban can stir distrust of the electorates towards aspirant and their political party.
- Twitter ban denies electorates the opportunities of political sensitization hence affecting their voting behaviour.
- Twitter ban aggravates the political alienation of electorates, and this is detrimental to sustainable democracy
- Twitter ban in Nigeria can affect electorates’ level of participation and choice of candidate in view of the upcoming 2023 general election.
RECOMMENDATION
The damaging effects of the ban on the economy is not one to be swept under the rug. It is now a matter of urgency. Our leaders need to understand the importance of new age applications and have passionate young Nigerians play active roles in leadership. That way, there is a balance of experience and knowledge. If indeed the country is an entity where “they can have business”, then, unless those at the helm of affairs see it as a tool that has created job opportunities, and a tool for expressing differing political views and opinions for the betterment of the country, we might make no headway with the dialogue.
From the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made:
- The federal government of Nigeria should endeavour to go back to their drawing board and make necessary amendments to the ban on Twitter usage in Nigeria.
- In regards to the upcoming 2023 general elections, the federal government should see that the ban is lifted in other to ameliorate political apathy among electorate.
- All political parties in Nigeria should ensure they make use of Twitter platform and other social media platform in political campaign, sensitization of the masses and creation of awareness as this will shape the political behaviour of electorate.
- The federal government of Nigeria should recognize that the ban on Twitter is affecting different spheres of the economy. They should adhere to the terms and rules of ECOWAS and revoke the ban since the ban is a bridge of the fundamental rights of the citizens.
- All business organizations affected by the ban should utilize other social media platforms as means to create awareness of their product to the public and try more strategic approach to e-commerce to enhance their proficiency.
REFERENCES
- Amaefule, E. (2011, April 14). 2.99 million Nigerians now on Facebook. The Punch, p.20.
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- Barnes, N. G., & Mattson, E. (2009). Social media in the 2009 Inc. 500: new tools & New Trends. Retrieved February 2, 2010, from center for marketing research, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth:http://www.umassd.edu/cmr/studiesresearch/socialmedia2009.pdf
- Barnes, N. G., & Mattson, E. (2009). Social media in the 2009 Inc. 500: new tools & new trends. Retrieved February 2, 2010, from center for marketing research, University of MassachusettsDartmouth:http://www.umassd.edu/cmr/studiesresearch/social media2009.pdf.
- Beth, H. (2010). Social media versus classical marketing. Retrieved October 4, 2010 from http://ww the hart of marketing.com/2010/3/social media –vs- classicalmarketing HTML (Blog post).
