SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, the use of social media has evolved into a bona fide tool that has served to strengthen communication processes and engagement, which in turn has contributed to the expansion of the boundaries of political involvement. This is not completely unrelated to the fact that the internet offers a platform for ongoing communication between the general populace and the government. The use of social media has evolved into a potent tool that can be used to engage users and disseminate content that is both convincing and implausible. This study juxtaposes the intersection between social media, the law and freedom of expression by exploring the ban on Twitter in 2021 and how it inhibits freedom of expression in Nigeria.   The study gives a new dimension to the nexus between social media and freedom of expression in Nigeria as it offers a variety of perspectives on the constitution’s press-related issues. This was achieved using four research questions; what are the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression in Nigeria, what are the challenges mitigating against social media freedom in Nigeria, what are the implications of the twitter ban on freedom of expression in Nigeria and how best can freedom of expression, as a right in a democratic dispensation be enhanced. The study adopted a mixed method of both qualitative and quantitative research method using a sample of one hundred and fifty respondents. Major findings from the study revealed that social media has aided the increase in  the volume of information available to the citizens as a guaranteed freedom of expression remains an important element in fostering an all inclusive and robust democratic system. Additionally, the censorship of twitter was observed as a flagrant abuse of the rights of citizens based on the fact social media allows for scrutiny and expression of divergent views on key issues which is the cornerstone of any viable democratic system. The study concluded that the gap between these two groups needed to be closed if progress in the area of free expression was to be maintained. In order to maintain public confidence, government employees must ensure that everyone has full access to public records by following the rules set forth in the Freedom of Information Act.