IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN RAISING AWARENESS ON CORONA VIRUS

ABSTRACT

The media plays a prominent role in information dissemination in all aspects of our daily life. This study examines the role of the media, specifically social media, in raising awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. This study explores ways in which social media has been used to share information, dispel myths, and promote safety measures during the time of the pandemic. This study also looks at the challenges faced by social media in its efforts to raise awareness, including misinformation and fake news. This study uses an online questionnaire and a survey of social media users with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including content analysis of social media posts and several misinformation. The results of the questionnaire administered to 100 respondents show that social media has played an important role in raising awareness on the pandemic in Nigeria, but that there are also challenges that need to be addressed. This study recommends that journalists and social media users should focus on sharing factual and verified information, and that more efforts should be made to combat misinformation. This study also recommends that the Nigerian government should work with the media to ensure that general information about a pandemic or other topic of serious concern to the citizens is communicated effectively and reaches as many people as possible.