Evaluation Of The Effect Of Twitter Ban On Information Dissemination In Nigeria

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Twitter Ban On Information Dissemination In Nigeria

Chapter One

Preface

Background of the study

Social media is the term frequently used to relate to new forms of media that involve interactive participation. frequently the development of media is divided into two different periods, the broadcast age and the interactive age. In the broadcast age, media were nearly simply centralized where one reality similar as a radio or TV station, review company, or a movie product plant distributed dispatches to numerous people. Feedback to media outlets was frequently circular, delayed, and impersonal. Mediated communication between individualities generally happed on a much lower position, generally via particular letters, telephone calls, or occasionally on a slightly larger scale through means similar as photocopied family newsletters. With the rise of digital and mobile technologies, commerce on a large scale came easier for individualities than ever ahead; and as similar, a new media age was born where interactivity was placed at the center of new media functions. One existent could now speak to numerous, and instant feedback was a possibility. Where citizens and consumers used to have limited and kindly muted voices, now they could partake their opinions with numerous. The low cost and availability of new technology also allowed more options for media consumption than ever ahead and so rather of only a many news outlets, individualities now have the capability to seek information from several sources and to dialogue with others via communication forums about the information posted. At the core of this ongoing revolution is social media. The characteristics, common forms, and common functions of social media are explored then.

Core Characteristics

All social media involve some kind of digital platform, whether that be mobile or stationary. Not everything that’s digital, still, is inescapably social media. Two common characteristics help to define social media. First, social media allow some form of participation. Social media are noway fully unresistant, indeed if occasionally social networking spots similar as Facebook may allow unresistant viewing of what others are posting. generally, at bare minimum, a profile must be created that allows for the morning of the eventuality for commerce. That quality in and of itself sets social media piecemeal from traditional media where particular biographies aren’t the norm. Second,

and in line with their participatory nature, social media involve commerce. This commerce can be with established musketeers, family, or familiarity or with new people who partake common interests or indeed a common familiarity circle. Although numerous social media were or are originally treated or appertained to as new, as they continue to be integrated into particular and professional lives they come less noticed and more anticipated.

Common Forms

As this overview of common forms of social media demonstrates, some are used primarily for recreation or particular connections, others for work or professional reasons, but utmost allow latitude for both.

Dispatch.

training. Those who work for public associations( including politicians, professors at state universities, and directors and sidekicks for government services) are frequently subject to open records laws that will allow interested people or associations to request any emails transferred or entered to a government funded dispatch account or an dispatch account used to conduct government business.p. 1159 Use of dispatch actuallypre-dates the internet, with some associations having the capability to shoot dispatches electronically within a original computing network. As the Internet rose to elevation, transferring dispatches across different waiters also came a possibility. Dispatch acts as a

quick and largely dependable way to shoot documents or images, updates or important details at a moment’s notice, or to partake one piece of information with a large number of people. numerous people face issues with spam, or unasked dispatch that’s generally from marketable sources. numerous times spam is aggravated by computer contagions that use dispatch programs to capture all of the dispatch addresses in a stoner’s address book. An address book is the list of dispatch addresses that an individual saves to snappily shoot an dispatch to an individual or a group of people. People frequently divide an address book into different kinds of musketeers, associates, or family members to shoot correspondence to those who it’s utmost applicable.

Texters.

analogous to dispatch, a texter is a two- way communication channel that allows individualities to snappily shoot a communication to another person or a group of people. Although media

descriptions frequently make it look as if texting is a particularly immature geste , people of all periods have acclimated to texting. Still, youngish individualities tend to text more frequently and generally do so at a faster speed. As texting technology has bettered, it’s easier to text prints or to copy and bury links into texters in order to partake them with others. Texters frequently make use of emoticons, the use of keyboard characters to make filmland similar as a smiley face(e.g.,- P), a practice that’s also common with dispatch. Texters are deduced from discordances, or computer programs that make use of the internet to allow people to snappily talk back and forth via textbook characters. Although the use of texting is frequently largely accessible and allows numerous benefits, particular attention has been paid to two texting actions that has led to problems texting while driving and sexting. It’s estimated that texting while driving makes a auto crash nearly 23 more likely. Sexting is substantially dangerous when adolescent children partake filmland that are latterly redistributed to others by the receiver. In some cases, those encouraging filmland of people under the age of 18 have been charged with child pornography. Politicians have faced scrutiny for participating sexual dispatches with others, including interns. Despite these problematic capabilities, numerous grown-ups report that sexting is a satisfying volition to sexual commerce when they’re down from their mates.

Blogs.

The word blog is deduced from the word weblog. A blog is a webpage where an

individual or group can partake information or ideas with a large group of people via the internet. It isn’t uncommon for a person to start a blog and also noway modernize it again. Some of the most successful blogs are streamlined on a regular base so the followers of the blog can know when to anticipate new entries. Blogs cover a wide range of motifs, including political issues of all kinds. A common point to blogs is a feedback forum where, after reading an entry, people can interact with both the blog author and others who have reflected. numerous traditional media outlets have espoused blog- suchlike features online in order to allure compendiums to continue sticking with their news or entertainment immolations. For illustration, numerous review stories end with the occasion for compendiums to partake their studies or commentary about a current issue. These news stories especially when about hot or particularly prejudiced political issues — can lead to serious debates. Because of the contentious nature numerous blogs and news outlets find, it isn’t uncommon for a stoner to be needed to register in order to share.p. 1160

Communication boards.

It isn’t uncommon for suckers of TV programs or other popular entertainment to frequent communication boards that allow druggies to post dispatches that talk about a easily defined subject. Communication boards also prove popular with people seeking social support or advice, whether that’s wounded soldiers trying to make sense of life after war or someone facing bone cancer who wants to talk to someone differently who has been through the experience. Advice is also offered through review spots similar as Yelp that allow druggies to rate businesses similar as caffs .

Connection spots.

Online courting is another form of social media. druggies approach online courting spots some that bear paid class and others that are free of charge and produce a

profile that tells who they’re and what they seek in a relationship. Some may be skeptical about how honest some are about the information displayed in an online profile, but exploration shows that people are generally honest. The smirch placed upon online courting spots has continued to dwindle as further people continue to use them in order to meet dating mates. In addition to courting, others may use connection spots to find musketeers or exertion mates. For illustration, the connection point Meet Up allows druggies to find activist groups, book clubs, or hobbyhorse circles. druggies enter a profile, and also they can indeed shoot dispatches to meet up group leaders in order to learn further about the exertion or see if they would make a good fit for the group.

Social networking spots.

Facebook, Twitter, instagram, whatsapp, and other social networking spots are nearly ubiquitous features in contemporary culture. Indeed those who choose not to produce an online profile and share will frequently hear from others information gained from similar social platforms. A crucial identifying point that makes a social networking point is the fellow list of druggies that one connects with, generally grounded upon fellowship, family, work connections, or indeed weak tie connections. originally social networking spots were great ways to meet new people, and although that’s still a possibility numerous social networking spots now discourage people from adding connections they don’t know. The public nature of information posted to social networking spots frequently allow a space for social or political shoes to be displayed, although exploration suggests

much of this political exertion reinforces pre- being beliefs – especially because people tend to be online musketeers with those that are most like them.

As the classes of social media make clear, social media have numerous different functions. First, they allow people to do identity work. When an individual puts who he or she’s into a profile, it requires some kind of reflection. As individualities see response to their online social presence, they will consider themselves in new light and notice that online commerce allows them to feel more open about studies, opinions, and inquiries – both for better and for worse. Second, social media allows people to tend to their connections in different ways. Indeed if popular converse frequently demonizes outlets similar as Facebook or Twitter as narcissistic and shallow, exploration shows

they allow people who may not else be suitable to connect an outlet to interact. People also report meeting some of their stylish musketeers and indeed consorts through computer intermediated communication platforms. Third, social media allow people to perform work functions. occasionally the social media is their work, similar as a popular blog or someone with a large social network circle being hired to promote events. Other times people interact with work associates. via social media spots or, especially with dispatch, take care of utmost of their work communication using the social media outlet. Fourth, social media allow for people to seek information or share ideas. This information can range from political juggernauts to original issues to disaster relief to where is a good place to buy plus size apparel. Fifth, and frequently in line with information sharing, people can also offer opinions or consider the opinions of others through social media. Eventually, individualities can find entertainment through similar spots.

Communications and dissemination of information spread has been revolutionized by technological breakthroughs and rapid advances. Technological development has greatly changed the way in which information is stored and transmitted. Chapman & Slaymaker (2002) avers that industrial society has progressed into an era of advance technological innovations, thereby affecting the way people live their lives and how organizations run their daily business activities. Technology is permeating people’s lives like never before. It is being used in all pheres of life such as health care, education, agriculture, banking sector, information seeking and retrieval, energy, manufacturing and transportation (Boutin, 2013). At the center of all technological developments is the growing use of the internet and mobile technologies (Dickey, 2013; Reference.com, 2017; Okiy, 2010). ICTs have been embedded in our everyday lifestyles to such an exetnt that there is an emerging concept called ‘internet of things’ (IoT). The ‘internet of things’ is refered to as a network of interconnected devices, objects or things that are able to communicate and exchange data using embedded sensors and the internet (Meola, 2016; Morgan, 2014). According to Rouse (2016, para. 2) “A thing, in the Internet of Things, can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a biochip transponder, an automobile that has built-in sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low or any other natural or man-made object that can be assigned an IP address and provided with the ability to transfer data over a network”. This is how fast technology is changing our daily activities, the way we interact with one another and our interaction with nature. In today’s world, information societies are no longer separated. As stated by Nwagwu (2006), Okiy (2010) and West & Heath (2011); mobile phones, fax machines, the internet and other ICT facilities has accelerated the concept of globalization. With the use of technology individuals, organizations and government agencies are able to share ideas and work on projects from across continents. It is unfortunate that developing countries are at an ever increasing disadvantage in a globalizing world, as they fail to harness the benefits of the ongoing technological developments (Chapman & Slaymaker, 2002; Rodríguez & Wilson, n.d.). Nwagwu (2006; 179) also concurs that “the impact of ICTs in developing countries generally can be considered inegalitarian because their benefits accrue more to the rich than the poor developing countries, thus defining a new form of digital divide”. Therefore it is of paramount importance that developing countries know how to bridge the digital divide and be able to use ICTs to benefit all levels of society (Greenberg, 2006).Though the rate of technological development and adoption in developing countries cannot be compared to the rate of technological developments in developed countries; literature shows that developing countries are also facing an information explosion and relatively high numbers of information seekers who are using technology on an everyday basis. Bruijn (2009) gives an account of how ICTs revolutionized African countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Mali since the 1980s. Other studies also reveal that developing countries have implemented ICT policies, egovernment initiatives and they are making significant investments in various technological innovations e.g. in health and educational ICT (Bhuasiri, Xaymoungkhoun, Zo, Rho, & Ciganek (2012); Kozma & Vota, 2014). ICTs can possibly help developing countries tackle numerous issues such as health, social and economic problems. This can be possible if both government and the public have instant access to information that can influence decision making. It is there vital for information providers to adopt information communication technologies that will enable them to disseminate information in an effective and timely manner. Efficiency and effectiveness of information distribution by information repositories and access by information users, will potentially help developing countries to eliminate extreme poverty and combart serious diseases (Andrianaivo & Kpodar (2011); Delponte, et al., 2015).

The birth of technology and continuous ICT developments are changing in terms of information acquisition, storage, organization, maintenance and the methods of rendering services (Fagbola, Uzoigwe, & Ajegbomogun, 2011). The following are some of the methods used to disseminate information in the 21st century era. Most of these methods are self-service techniques which involve the use of technology such as laptops, smartphones, PDAs, MP3s, computers and many more. Online Public Access Catalogues and networked databases: due to online presence of catalogues, users are able to retrieve and access information resources in a timelier manner. Current OPACs can be accessed through the use mobile technology such as cell phones.

The birth of technology and nonstop ICT developments are changing in terms of information accession, storehouse, association, conservation and the styles of rendering services( Fagbola, Uzoigwe, & Ajegbomogun, 2011). The following are some of the styles used to circulate information in the 21st century period. utmost of these styles are tone- service ways which involve the use of technology similar as laptops, smartphones, PDAs, MP3s, computers and numerous further. Online Public Access Canons and networked databases due to online presence of canons, druggies are suitable to recoup and pierce information coffers in a timelier manner. Current OPACs can be penetrated through the use mobile technology similar as cell phones.

Statement of exploration problem

The Nigerian civil government’s suspense of the operation of Americanmicro-blogging company, Twitter, in Nigeria, might have left both in a catch- 22 situation as the brace have lost millions of followers that they had erected for further than half a decade. For Twitter the saga has bring it billions of cash, while Nigerians, in both private and public sectors have lost their means of instantcommunication.The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had last week blazoned the suspense of Twitter after the establishment deleted some aspects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet, which the company set up to be in breach of its rules. Following searing attacks of the suspense by social activists, who said it was an abuse of Nigerians ’ freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39( 1) of the Constitution as altered, Muhammed added an redundant reason for the act, saying the temporary prohibition of the internet platform was a response to the establishment’s patient violation of the nation’s public security interest. The suspense order had attracted a directive from the National Broadcasting Commission( NBC), asking all Telcos and broadcasting media to kill their Twitter handles and block access to the internet installation. numerous Nigerians, have, still, circumvented the civil government’s blockage of themicro-blogging installation, resorting to the virtual private network( VPN) to connect Twitter. Although THISDAY’s checks showed that Buhari, his deputy,Prof. Yemi Osinbajo( SAN), and numerous government agencies, including the fortified forces, ministries, departments and agencies( MDAs), have suspended twittering, some governors including Malam Nasir el- Rufai( Kaduna),Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu( Ondo) andMr. Seyi Makinde( Oyo) have continued to chitter in defiance of the civil government’s directive. Judges said on Monday that both the civil government and Twitter must be feeling the rough edges of the suspense as they suffer its adverse effect. For the Nigerian government, its agencies and millions of private sector druggies of themicro-blogging installation, it amounts to a loss of an instant communication tool, which had helped to grease the dispersion and damage of information necessary for the conduct of their businesses. Agencies like Nigeria Centre for Disease Control( NCDC) that had used its Twitter handle to incontinently communicate with the public information on the COVID- 19 epidemic, would now have to return to otherpre-Twitter messaging platforms, includinge-mail, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram that aren’t as presto,. A day after Mohammed blazoned the suspense of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria, the Attorney- General of the Federation( AGF) and Minister of Justice,Mr. Abubakar Malami, had advised that violators of the ban would be fulfilled. But elderly attorneys have questioned the legitimacy of Malami’s order, saying that it isn’t predicated in law, adding that Nigerians couldn’t be fulfilled for offences not specified by law. To calm the global outrage that the suspense of Twitter has generated, the civil government on Monday met with ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and Ireland in Nigeria and sought their understanding on its suspense of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria. But save for the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, who killed her Twitter handle following the suspense of Twitter’s operations in the country, Buhari, Osinbajo and some other top government officers still retained their accounts, although they ’re inactive. still, the civil government’s directive suspending Twitter’s operations in Nigeria was silent on whether or not Nigerians should kill their accounts. But a directive Monday by the National Broadcasting Commission( NBC) had directed road and TV stations in the country tode-install their Twitter accounts. still checks show that Twitter accounts belonging to government Ministries, Departments and Agencies( MDAs) are also being retained. Some of the accounts being retained belong to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Geoffrey Onyema; Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN); and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs( MFA). Others include the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control( NCDC), the Super Eagles, the sanctioned Twitter account of Nigerian football platoon; and the Nigerian Football Federation( NFF), among numerous others. While utmost of these accounts aren’t active, the same can not be said of their helpers who have bypassed the networks to tweet with their Virtual Private Network( VPN). Also active are Twitter accounts of former Legislators Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye, as well as el- Rufai who twittered the link of a story on “ Nigeria African country teaches US assignment in how to handle Big Tech despotism RT Op- ed. ” While Akeredolu’s last tweet, on the attack on Igangan community in Oyo State was at7.11 pm on Sunday, Makinde, at9.45 am, on Sunday, twittered to prompt for calm over the attack on Igangan. Also, utmost churches are still active on Twitter with both Deeper Life Bible Church and Redeemed Christian Church of God( RCCG), justifying their accounts being active on the grounds that they need to reach zealots in other countries. The RCCG, in a explanation, said “ The Redeemed Christian Church of God is housed in further than 170 nations & homes. The tweets then are in agreement with Composition 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ” Composition 19 of the UDHR said “ Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without hindrance and to seek, admit and conduct information and ideas through any media and anyhow of borders. ” Also, the Deeper Life General Overseer, Pastor Williams Kumuyi said “ In view of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, please note that the content participated on this handle is targeted at a global followership in further than five mainlands and over 100 nations and we partake the content from any of these locales. ” The civil government on Monday sought the understanding of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and Ireland over its suspense of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria. It, still, gave conditions to lift the suspense. Also on Monday, Lagos State Governor,Mr. Babajide Sanwo- Olu, called for a speedy resolution of the disagreement. Addressing a press conference after a meeting with the five representatives of the operations in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama, said they had a discussion concerning the issues of Twitter ban and grounded on the common press statement before made by the operations. He said “ We had a useful discussion with the countries that are considered to be close musketeers and mates of Nigeria. We sat down and reviewed the whole situation and we stated the security concern ofMr. President and the whole Nigerians and the veritably strong way we ’ve taken to address the security challenges of the country. ” Onyeama said they presented first- hand information about the security challenges of the country and also the part of the social media. He stated that social media is good for dispersion of information, but it can also be used for good and the bad. He added that the bad side of it has dire consequences on mortal lives and property. According to him, it’s apropos to keep the concinnity of the country and to achieve all these, a decision has to be taken and measures put in place to insure the social platforms are used responsibly. He said as a republic, the issue of abecedarian mortal rights was anticipated to be admired, especially freedom of speech, adding that this shouldn’t be allowed to bring the country down. He stated that the five operations and their countries have been supporting Nigeria indeed with its security and development challenges. He said “ We’ve been having cooperation and solidarity with the five countries. They’ve supported us veritably explosively in our security challenges, philanthropic extremity, development challenges and profitable challenges, so we can say that these countries are our mates. We’re asking them to also support us as we continue to defy all these challenges. “ We’ve heeded to them and they also have their views on all of these issues and we gave them the openings to also expressed themselves. “ We’re particularly gratified with the statement and consolation of support and fellowship towards Nigeria. We’ve to keep an eye on the main ideal of this government, whenMr. President was tagged, security was number one of his precedences and it’s commodity he really wants to be suitable to deliver for Nigeria. “ Without security, everything additional fails, investments go out of the country, regular migration out, it’ll be a vicious cycle. “ We’ll each be disasters and our children, generation to come will all be affected. What we do moment will really determine the future of this country. That’s why this government gives precedence to security, that this government would have to live in peace and security. And we’ve to keep our country together. “ What we’ve done moment, will really define the future of the country and that’s whyMr. “ President is absolutely determined that security has been made and Nigerians have to live in peace and security and that we’ve to keep our country together. We heeded to each other and clarified some areas. ” Onyeama, still, said the government was formerly agitating with Twitter on lifting the suspense. He said “ As you yourself have said, conversations are ongoing with Twitter, we want to see how that progresses. So I can not say for now the duration of the suspense. There are exchanges with our mates and with social media. “ The introductory condition is really responsible communication. We know the power of words and the power of words for good and the power of words for bad. You know when you have that kind of power to manage and grease the communication of billions of people around the world; it has to come with liabilities. Absolutely, it has to come with liabilities. So the condition will be a responsible use of media and that really has to be stuck to. ” Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Adedayo Akinwale and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Objects Of The Study

The primary ideal of this study is as follows

To find out factors responsible for twitter ban

To find out how twitter ban has affected information dispersion in Nigeria

To find out respectable ways by which dispersion of information can be made easy

To find out how to ameliorate on information dispersion in Nigeria

Research questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study

What are the factors responsible for twitter ban?

How has twitter ban has affected information dispersion in Nigeria?