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ABSTRACT
This study investigated the portrayal of domestic violence against women on social media platforms in Nigeria, specifically using Opera News and Phoenix News. The research objectives include examining the types and frequency of domestic violence coverage on these platforms, assessing the prominence given to domestic violence, and evaluating the effectiveness of Opera News and Phoenix News in projecting domestic violence. The survey research method was employed, and the population of the study consisted of staff members of Benson Idahosa University who use Opera News and Phoenix News. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 150 respondents from both teaching(245) and non teaching staffs (384). The findings revealed that Opera News and Phoenix are popular platforms for disseminating information and effectively portray domestic violence against women without employing comedic portrayals. News articles on domestic violence were perceived positively, providing detailed information and shaping audience opinions. Respondents often took action or sought information on domestic violence after reading articles on these platforms. While opinions varied on program- upload-frequency, there was a perception of higher uploads on weekends. Overall, respondents unanimously agreed on the important role played by social media platforms in raising awareness about domestic violence against women. The study emphasizes the need for responsible and effective portrayal of domestic violence on these platforms and suggests further research on other social media platforms and their impact on attitudes, behaviour, and policies related to domestic violence against women.
