IMPACT OF TWITTER BAN ON ONLINE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The Study
Social media has been defined over time as a way for individuals to communicate with one another through the creation, sharing, and/or exchange of knowledge and ideas in online communities and networks. As social media platforms gain in popularity, new digital social networks are emerging, enabling people to connect and exchange knowledge, news, and ideas at a speed and ease never before possible. Thus, it appears that the usage of such technology has the power to alter the social structures and relationships that exist now (with the public and civic spheres inclusive).
In the social sciences, great focus has been made on defining social media’s function in contemporary society and the connections between online and offline actors, institutions, events, and political and social change (Mossberger, Tolbert, & McNeal, 2008; Trottier, 2012). (Edwards, Housley, Williams, Sloan, Williams, 2013). Consequently, networked digital technologies are altering mass public communications in numerous ways, enabling not just new types of conflict and social fragmentation but also deliberation, debate, citizen participation, and other types of social interaction, according to Edwards et al. (2013). (of which Twitter is a typical example).
Registered users of Twitter, a free social networking microblogging service, can publish brief messages called tweets. Members of Twitter can utilize a variety of platforms and devices to broadcast tweets and follow the tweets of other users, promoting the rapid dissemination of information. Tweets and replies to tweets can be transmitted by desktop clients, mobile text messages, or postings on the Twitter website (Gerbaudo, P. 2012). In other words, Twitter encourages interpersonal communication and public involvement in a range of problems that are important to people. As a result, the public now has many opportunities to engage with a variety of societal issues thanks to Twitter’s unrestricted interactive features.
Despite Twitter’s important function and prospects, some nations have outlawed its use in their cultures. These nations include Turkey, Turkmenistan, the UK, North Korea, Iran, China, and, most recently, Nigeria.
Because of “the repeated use of the platform for acts that are potential of damaging Nigeria’s business existence,” the Nigerian government declared on June 5, 2021, that Twitter’s operations in the nation would be suspended indefinitely. Without a doubt, the unexpected and extreme move to stop Twitter in the nation will have a significant influence on the nation. On the other hand, the focus of this study is focused on how Twitter’s prohibition will affect online social communication.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
The federal government of Nigeria has put a halt to Twitter’s social networking and microblogging activities there. In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, June 5, 2021, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension and cited the platform’s continued usage for actions that could threaten Nigeria’s corporate survival. (Aljezeera.com).
More people in Nigeria—about 39 million—have Twitter accounts than there are people in Ghana—32 million—according to Ajezeera.com. Also, the site has encouraged and improved social contact among Nigerians as they address societal concerns over time political issues, the dissemination of knowledge, and many more. Emmanuel Alumona, who spoke with Aljezeera, claimed that “Like my newspaper, Twitter. When I want to see what’s going on in the nation and what people think, I refresh my timeline. Yet, it is difficult to tolerate Twitter’s prohibition because people like me may no longer be informed about societal events “. So, in light of the foregoing, this study aims to ascertain how the Twitter ban has affected social communication in Nigeria.
1.3 Objective Of The Study
Examining how the Twitter ban in Nigeria has affected social communication is the main goal of this study. Thus, the following are the precise objectives:
1. Check to see if Twitter’s prohibition in Nigeria would slow down the dissemination of news there.
2. Examine whether banning Twitter will restrict how the general population expresses their views on the social and political challenges facing the nation.
3. Analyze how the Twitter ban would impact Nigeria’s online social interaction.
1.4 Research Hypothesis
A speculative experimental claim demonstrating the association between two or more variables is referred to as a hypothesis. It is subject to testing, and based on whether it agrees or disagrees with the statistical test, it may be accepted or denied.
The veracity of the following claim will be investigated in the study:
H01: Nigeria’s Twitter ban won’t slow down the country’s ability to monitor news developments quickly.
H02: The Twitter ban in Nigeria won’t hinder how the general people expresses their views on social and political concerns there.
H03: The Twitter ban in Nigeria will significantly impact online social contact among Nigerian citizens.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study will examine the unexpected effects of Nigeria’s hasty decision to forbid the use of Twitter. Given this, the study will also inform/apprise the Nigerian government on the risks that the nation’s indefinite suspension of Twitter may cause, as well as on the importance of hearing their citizens’ perspectives. More specifically, this study will offer pertinent advice for all Nigerian citizens that will support and strengthen online social interaction so that they are always informed about societal developments. Last but not least, this research will be a useful resource for students, researchers, academicians, and the general public in terms of pertinent information.
1.6 Scope Of The Study
This study’s focus is on determining whether the ban on Twitter in Nigeria will slow down the dissemination of information there, whether it will limit how the public expresses its opinions and perceptions of social and political issues there, and how much the ban will impact online social interaction there. Users of social media in Benin City, Edo State, will serve as the study’s respondents.
1.7 Limitations Of The Study
The main drawbacks of the study are the lack of cash needed to conduct the additional logistics and recruit a large number of respondents. Another restriction was that the researcher had to divide his or her time between academic work and carrying out this research within the allotted time frame.
Another problem that restricted this investigation was a lack of materials necessary for its effectiveness. The researcher faced challenges with the literature sources and interviewing processes involved in validating this research.
1.8 Definition Of Terms
Twitter: Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking website on which users post and interact with messages known as “tweets”.
Social Communication: Social communication refers to the emergence of verbal and nonverbal skills, social interaction, and social cognition.
Ban: A ban is an official or informal prohibition of something. Bans are created for the restriction of activities within a specific political region.
REFERENCE
How Nigeria’s Twitter ban may 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 Nigeria’s suspension on Twitter, according to Ajazeera New: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/4/nigerian-twitter-users-blast-govt-ban-of-social-media-giant
Housley, W., Williams, M., Sloan, L., and Edwards, A. (2013). The sociological imagination, social media, and digital social research: Surrogacy, Augmentation, and Reorientation. Journal of Social Research Methodology International
Gébaudo, P. (2012). Twitter and the streets: Modern activism and social media. Pluto Press, London, England.
K. Mossberger, C. J. Tolbert, and R. S. McNeal (2008). The Internet, society, and engagement in digital citizenship. Boston: MIT Press
D. Trottier (2012). Using social media to spy. UK: Farnham: Ashgate.
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