CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background Of The Study
People produce, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks through social media, which has long been recognized as a way of human connection. People can engage and share information, news, and ideas at an unprecedented rate and ease thanks to the growing popularity of social media platforms. As a result, it appears that the adoption of such technologies has the potential to alter current social structures and relationships (Zhang, W., Johnson, T.J., Seltzer, T. & Bichard, S. 2010).
With a large majority of the world’s population having access to the internet, it has become the most significant technological revolution of the twentieth century.
In today’s culture, the use of these technologies in the efficient, cost-effective, and convenient interchange of crucial information and ideas among individuals via online media platforms like Twitter has become critical (Manning, J. 2014). According to Sajindra, K., and Patil, R. (2013), networked digital technologies are transforming mass public communications in a variety of ways, allowing for 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 a typical example).
As a result, Twitter fosters public participation and conversation on a wide range of human-interest themes.
As a result, Twitter’s unconstrained interactive nature has created various opportunities for the public to engage in debates about a range of environmental issues (a Nigerian experience) (Sajindra et al). (2013). Company owners and cooperative organizations, in particular, have used Twitter to promote their services. The importance and advantages of Twitter cannot be overstated. It has served as a platform for reaching out to clients and targeted audiences, resulting in small and medium-sized businesses growing. As a result, it is apparent that Nigerian individuals are utilizing Twitter for objectives that are acceptable to them, including, among other things, expressing thoughts and exercising free speech on societal and political concerns. Regardless of Twitter’s critical services, countries like Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Kingdom, for example,
Statement Of The Problem
The Nigerian government shut down Twitter’s operations in the country after President Muhammadu Buhari’s account was suspended for violating the social media company’s “abusive” behavior standards. After threatening to punish regional secessionists accused of destroying government structures, Buhari’s account was stopped for 12 hours (Aljezeer news report). However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension of Twitter in an Abuja statement on Friday, June 5, 2021, citing the platform’s continued use for actions that threaten Nigeria’s corporate survival (Aljezeera.com). As a result, this rash decision has a huge impact not only on Nigerian society, but also sends the wrong message to foreign investors, and small businesses in Nigeria who rely on Twitter for a living would be similarly affected. “Digital media is used by businesses in Nigeria to acquire customers, expose their brands, and communicate with a variety of stakeholders,” Sesan told AlJazeera. As a result, Nigerian people have been restricted by the prohibition, as the majority of social media users in the country are familiar with the usage of Twitter for exchanging educational, urgent, and business information. They also use Twitter to express themselves and engage in social and political discussions. “Twitter is akin to my local newspaper,” Emmanuel Alumona told Aljezeera in an interview. I refresh my timeline to see what’s going on in the country and what others are saying; yet, it’s too difficult to accept Twitter’s ban because most Nigerians, including myself, may no longer be kept informed.
Objectives Of The Study
The primary goal of this research is to determine the reasons and effects of Nigeria’s Twitter ban on its citizenry. The study’s particular aims are listed below.
- Determine the root causes of Nigeria’s Twitter ban.
- Determine the harmful impact of Nigeria’s Twitter ban on its citizens.
- Determine whether the Twitter ban has had any impact on Nigerian individuals’ social interactions.
Research Hypothesis
An experimental statement that shows the relationship between two or more variables is referred to as a hypothesis. It can be tested and accepted or rejected based on whether or not it agrees or disagrees with the statistical test.
The following hypotheses will be tested in this study:
H01: Nigerians have had no adverse effects as a result of the Twitter ban.
H02: Nigerian residents’ social interactions are unaffected by the Twitter ban.
Significance Of The Study
This research will elucidate the unintended consequences of Nigeria’s erratic decision to ban the usage of Twitter. In light of this, the study will also inform/educate the Nigerian government about the hazards that an indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country could pose, as well as the need of listening to citizens’ voices. This study will be especially useful to businesses in Nigeria that use Twitter to communicate with their clients, as the study would not be deemed complete without presenting practical answers. Finally, this research will be a useful resource for students, scholars, other academics, and the general public.
Scope Of The Study
The purpose of this research is to determine the causes and effects of the Twitter ban on Nigerian citizens, with the specific goal of identifying the major causes of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, identifying the negative effects of the Twitter ban on Nigerian citizens, and determining whether the Twitter ban has any impact on Nigerian citizens’ social interactions. As a result, this study will solely collect public opinion and will be limited to residents of Asaba Delta State.
Limitation Of The Study
Financial constraints – A researcher’s efficiency in discovering relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data gathering process, is often hampered by a lack of cash (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint: The researcher will be working on this subject while also doing other academic tasks. As a result, the time spent on research will be cut in half.
Definition Of Terms
Use of social media
In general, social media refers to any new media technology that allows for interactive sharing of information, videos, photographs, text, and comments via websites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, Youtube, and blogs.
Twitter is a microblogging and social networking website based in the United States that allows users to send and receive messages known as “tweets.”
Ban
A prohibition, whether official or informal, is a formal or informal prohibition of anything. Bans are enacted to ban specific actions inside a political jurisdiction.
REFERENCE
How Nigeria’s Twitter ban would affect people and businesses, according to Ajazeera New: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/6/7/nigerian-twitter-ban-how-government-restriction-affects-people.
Nigerians on Twitter respond to the country’s Twitter suspension, according to Ajazeera News: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/4/nigerian-twitter-users-blast-govt-ban-of-social-media-giant
J. Manning (2014). Definition and Types of Social Media According to K. Harvey (Ed.).
K. Sajindra and R. Patil (2013). History and Components of Social Media The Journal of Business and Management is a publication dedicated to the study of business and management.
W. Zhang, T.J. Johnson, T. Seltzer, and S. Bichard (2010). The Impact of Social Networking Sites on Political Attitudes and Behavior: The Revolution Will Be Networked Review of Social Science Computers. Publication by SAGE.
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