Archive of Social Sciences

and Humanities
Vol. 3 No. 1

The role social media play in generating political

awareness, discussion and strategies for better elections
Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini,
Jamila Musa Isah

Keywords Abstract
Social Media, Political Participation, politics, The use of social media in politics has continued to grow in
voting, internet recent times, It has shaped how people think, feel, act and how
the society operates. It has contributed to the development
Contact
of citizen’s participation in politics, as it has the potentials to
Kaduna State University, Nigeria
create public awareness, mobilisation and interactions between
[email protected] odz.pl
people in a simple form and different means. This study
therefore, reviews the role social media play in generating
political awareness, discussion and strategies for better election
via effective virtual communities, online discussions, and
collaborative initiatives. Drawn from the framework of Social
Media Engagement Theory, the research combines qualitative
analysis of relevant literatures collected through a mixed
method approach in a bid to understand the mechanisms
through which media influence generates political civilisation
and awareness. It proposed that information about state
political systems and political activities, political mobilisation
is been brought to the citizen’s hearing through social media
platforms. The study concludes that social media provides
an avenue for more citizens’ participation in government
activities and by extension, the emergence and applicability
of such mediums in passing public information to citizens,
communities, institutions, and governments worldwide.
The work recommends that efforts should be made toward
monitoring, moderating, or regulating the various social media
platforms to minimise the observed weaknesses and maximise
the intrinsic values of technology in the electoral process.
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

1. Introduction

Social media, with its strong presence in today’s modern societies,

serves as a platform for political awareness mobilisation, debate, and
political advertising, thus guiding citizens in making informed choices
among political candidates while disseminating information. Social me-
dia serves as a watchdog to the activities of government as for much go-
vernment information is easily accessible and publicise for citizens con-
sent and consensus (Ekoh & Elizabeth, 2021). The access to information
from legislative plenary, executive seating’s and court rulings from insti-
tutions of government and organisational policies, budget, recruitment
and service have been made more publicly due to social media which in
long run aids good governance through transparency and accountability
(Hillaris, 2021). As a participation platform , it allows for user generated
content and sharing content within one’s virtual network, using social
media as a news source allows users to engage with news in a variety
of ways, including consuming news, discover news, share or repost the
news.
The Nigeria media has witnessed a tremendous revolution from an or-
dinary organ for self-governance to a formidable social political force
and take its rightful position in the struggle for self-survival, self-actu-
alisation and independent egalitarian social institution (Adeyemi, 2023).
Today the advent of mobile phones and the internet now within the re-
ach of everyone and by extension social media, everyone today has been
able to participate in serious discussions of things happening in and
around the world (Pew Research Center, 2022; The World Bank, 2021;
Social Media Examiner, 2023).
Over the years, there have been an increasing number of national and
local governments and civil society organisations across the world that
have embraced digital transformation (Shadrach, 2017). Supporting this
view, Sunday (2019) posit that social media has come to stay as a tool
for political activities. The emergence of social media is believed to have
reduced the one-way (top-down) political communication system or-
chestrated by traditional mass media in Africa and Nigeria over several
years (Shadrach, 2017; Onuoha, 2019; Adeyemi, 2023). This implies that
social media such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are revolutionary
communication tools that have opened up the communication landsca-
pe for citizens to take part. It has been argued that particularly social
media can build new relationships between political actors and young

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

adults, enable social interaction about political topics, connect people,

enhance political opinion expression, equalise engagement, and gene-
rally foster participation as well as boost voter turnout or contribute to
social cohesion. Interestingly research has indicated that social media
has turned into one of the fundamental platforms for political aspirants
in Africa.
Through social media, they propagate diverse campaign messages to
their constituents who have an interest in their political career and aspi-
rations. Therefore, it has been indicated that African political leaders
have found the outstanding effectiveness of social websites and use them
for their political campaigns (Karikari, 2020; Mutsvairo, 2021; Anyidoho,
2022). In this regard, Okoro (2017), reported that with social networking
sites political aspirants appeal to citizens, and contact supporters, and as
such supporters contribute actively by commenting on various political
aspirant agendas and anticipations. David Zhitomirsky-Geffet, Koppel
and Uzan (2016) commented that most political parties and leaders ma-
intain an account on Facebook and Twitter to lay out their schedules. For
instance, the utilisation of social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube,
Twitter, and Blogs was massively deployed in the 2015, 2019, and 2023
Nigerian general elections (Ogundiya, 2021; Owolabi, & Adeyemi-Ade-
niji, 2021). Due to its participatory and creative nature, it turned into an
utter and exceptional platform for political campaigns organisers doing
electioneering crusades and other ideological trumpeting exercises, as
well as political contribution and mobilisation among others. According
to Oseni (2016) starting from the point of the campaign, through voting
to the collation of results and the subsequent proclamation of winners
by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), social media
was a formidable force in maintaining the masses informed. This sug-
gests a strong relationship between political activities and social media.
In this regard, recent years have seen a growing body of knowledge
demonstrating the connection between social media and electioneering
campaigns and even political processes, suggesting that the prominen-
ce of social media, particularly in politics has the potential to positively
influenced, political participation. Social media could be used as an
agent of growth and development (Jega, 2019). Social media platforms
are increasingly used for political news and information by citizens in
Nigeria, especially when it comes to election time. Social media has al-
lowed politicians to subvert typical media outlets by engaging with the
general public directly (Owen, 2017; Graham, 2017). One singular cha-
racteristic of social media is interactivity where users can comment or

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

reply to the post of other users, irrespective of geographical location, and

political and societal stratum. Consistent with this argument, Shadrach
(2017) asserted that social media are gaining popularity among citizens
because they pass information freely without the control of the govern-
ment, powerful politicians, and advertisers as well as free of conventio-
nal professional bottlenecks like gate-keeping. The media’s role in not
only disseminating information but also facilitating discussions and de-
bates is underscored by numerous case studies throughout history. For
instance, during the 2008 US presidential election, media organisations
played a significant role in providing voters with important information
and a platform for engaging in public debate. Through various modes
of media, such as televised debates, interviews, newspapers, radio, and
online media, voters were able to access information that helped them
make informed decisions on candidates and issues. Another relevant
case study is the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2017
and 2018 with the help of media coverage. The media brought stories of
sexual harassment and assault to the forefront, providing a space for pe-
ople to share their experiences and engage in conversations about these
pervasive issues. Through discussions on social media and in the main-
stream news, the movement exposed the pervasiveness of sexual harass-
ment and misogyny in many industries, leading to important changes in
policies and norms. Interestingly, social media is affordable and accessi-
ble as one can access Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media
on small internet-enabled mobile devices with the cheap internet data
bundle from mobile telecommunication companies like MTN, Airtel,
and Glo among others. Consequently, even higher rates of poverty and
economic hardship might not stop Nigerians from utilising social media
in their everyday life, particularly in political discourses and informa-
tion searching. To support this assertion, Digital Africa Research Labs
in 2019 found that despite Nigeria’s high rate of poverty, approximately
27.6 million Nigerians accessed Facebook at least once a month, and ne-
arly 20 million of them accessed the platform every day. These numbers
indicate that many Nigerians rely on social media as a primary source
of information and communication. In addition, during the 2019 Nige-
rian presidential election, social media played a crucial role in political
discourse and information sharing. According to a report by the Centre
for Democracy and Development (CDD) in 2018, social media provided
a platform for Nigerian citizens, particularly younger generations, to en-
gage in discussions and debates about politics and election issues. The
report also found that social media was instrumental in increasing vo-

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

ter participation and voter education, particularly among young people.

Furthermore, a study conducted by the International Centre for Journa-
lists found that social media has become the primary source of news for
many Nigerians, particularly those in urban areas. The study noted that
social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are used to dissemi-
nate information quickly and widely, making it easier for Nigerians to
access important news and information, regardless of their economic
situation.. On the other hand, it could be deduced that social media is
never taken for granted by most politicians in the country. Politicians in
Nigeria have social media assistants whose job is to help in monitoring
issues trending online. Citizens, on the other hand, use the media to par-
ticipate actively in the political discourse of the country. The media also
afford the citizens a friendlier avenue of assessing candidates for po-
litical offices as well as post questions to government and politicians to
promote transparency in governance (Madueke, 2017). It is thus signifi-
cant to note that substantial evidence exists to indicate that robust politi-
cal discussion is obtainable online via platforms such as Facebook and,
Twitter. For instance, Abubakar (2012) remarked that social media is the
new “political capital” where people resort to and participate in politi-
cal discourse. Although studies have shown that social media is essential
social forces that lubricate the engine room of democracy in Africa, and
are no doubt, revolutionising the process of political communication and
expanding the frontiers of political participation (United Nations Deve-
lopment Programme (UNDP), 2020); Pew Research Centre in 2021; Fre-
edom House, 2021). Yet, other research has shown that social media are
sometimes used inappropriately by political aspirants and their suppor-
ters which affect the fairness in political campaigns and processes at lar-
ge. Supporting this view, Suntai and Targema (2018) remarked that altho-
ugh social media provides a medium to facilitate democracy in Nigeria,
yet; in the build-up to the 2015 and 2019 general elections, the platforms
were deployed to perpetuate campaigns of calumny against candidates
with opposing views, which almost divided the country into the extremes
of the Muslim-North and Christian-South. This implies electoral crises
and squabbles between contestants on new dimensions due to the influ-
ence of social media. This theory was ropounded by Dr. Philip Howard in
his book “Pax Technica: How the Internet is Hyping Political Extremism”,
which was published in 2015. Howard argues that social media is creating
a new form of “information warfare” that is polarising the electorate and
making it more difficult to conduct fair and free elections. The availabili-
ty of smart phones has made even the grassroots disseminate messages

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

during electioneering campaigns, in turn; creating a new implication for

democracy. Therefore; social media are now used in both pre-election
and post-election exercises. Whilst these may develop new chances for
political campaigns, mobilisation, engagement, and participation, they
could also create misinformation geared towards discrediting a political
adversary. Put simply; while social media has the potential to promote
free and fair elections by expanding access to information and enabling
citizens to engage in political discourse, there are increasing concerns
about the ways in which social media can be manipulated to influence
the electoral process in Africa and Nigeria in particular. For instance; the
2019 Nigerian presidential election was marred by allegations of social
media manipulation, with several candidates and political parties accu-
sed of using social media to spread fake news and disinformation in an
attempt to sway public opinion. In response; the Nigerian government
passed legislation aimed at regulating social media use in the country,
which further raised concerns about free speech and digital rights.
Moreover, the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referen-
dum in the UK highlighted the potential for social media to be used for
propaganda and manipulation of the electoral process. The Cambridge
Analytica scandal, which involved unauthorised access to millions of Fa-
cebook users’ data, illustrated the extent to which social media can be
used to microtarget individuals with tailored political messages and di-
sinformation. These manipulations could affect the credibility of social
media and politicians; as well as contribute to misinformation within
society. This is not surprising as Oyebode (2019) indicated that in po-
litical campaigns, social networking sites can turn out to be an intense
and deadly weapon in the hands of political candidates, in which various
video releases, voice lines, feature reports, headlines, and broadcasts are
made to tarnish other political candidates and individuals. The above
views suggest that there have been an increasing number of considera-
ble researches on the use of social media in political campaigns in Nige-
ria with mixed findings.Social media has become increasingly relevant
in Nigerian politics, with researches indicating mixed findings. Some
studies suggest that social media usage can make a significant differen-
ce in political campaigns, while others show the potential for manipu-
lation and exploitation. In the 2015 presidential election, Muhammadu
Buhari utilised various platforms to connect with voters and gain sup-
port. His opponent, Goodluck Jonathan, fell seriously behind in the so-
cial media race. This example shows that social media played a critical
role in swaying the Nigerian electorate. The #EndSARS protest in 2020

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

is another example of social media’s influence in Nigeria. Youth-led pro-

testers used social media to mobilise and spread awareness about their
movement, which aimed to protest against police brutality. This mobili-
sation eventually caught the attention of the entire nation. The protest
led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and social
media played a significant role in the protests’ success. Social media has
also been used to shape the outcome of recent governorship elections
in Nigeria’s Edo and Ondo states. In Edo; incumbent Governor Godwin
Obaseki used social media to communicate with his constituents and
mobilise support, leading to his re-election. In Ondo; social media in-
fluencers were reportedly paid to promote political candidates. This
example illustrates the potential for social media in political campa-
igns, while exposing concerns about authenticity regarding social media
campaigns. In summary; social media’s importance in Nigerian politics
cannot be overstated. However; it is crucial to note that its impact may
be positive or negative, depending on how it is utilised. Politicians must
be wary of the possibly nefarious uses of social media, but with proper
regulation, social media can play a significant role in shaping political
discourse and mobilising support. In this regard, scholars have widely
appreciated and critiqued the impact of social media on political proces-
ses and campaigns in Nigeria.

2. Conceptual Clarification

Social Media

The concept of social media has been defined by various scholars

based on their understanding and respective point of view. Abubakar,
Ayodeji and Ismaila (2021) defined social media as a conglomeration
of online-based applications that aid ideological and technological fo-
undations of web 2.0 and that foster the creation and exchange of user
generated content. That is to say it is a mechanism that fosters the hu-
man relationship through technology and allowing for better, faster and
more constant social interactions among its users
According to Holloman (2012), social media is all about what people
do with the technology, the software, the tools and the channels: sharing
pictures and videos, writing product reviews, collecting content, connec-

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

ting with old friends, sharing with new friends, collaborating in the wor-
kplace. They use highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques
and include the various online technology tools that enable people to
communicate easily via the internet to share information and resources
(Greendhow, cited in Asemah, 2014, p. 57). Similarly, Kaplan & Haenlein
cited in Asak & Ohiagu (2013) define social media as ‘a group of internet
-based applications that are built on the ideological and technological
foundations of Web 2.0, which allow the creation of user-generated con-
tent.’ Describing social media, Nwammuo in Asemah and Edegoh (2013)
opined that social media is a web and mobile-based technologies, which
are used to turn communication into interactive dialogue among indivi-
duals, organisation, and communities. This informs why Dow in Asemah
(2014) asserted that social media essentially refer to ‘a category of online
media where people are talking, participating, sharing, networking and
bookmarking online.’ Healthfield cited in Asemah and Edegoh (2013)
observed that social media are the tools and platforms that people use to
publish content and interact socially online. Nwammuo in Asemah and
Edegoh (2013) stated that the concept of social media therefore, finds
its meaning in the ability of users to generate, interpret, restructure and
disseminate content. From the foregoing, social media is a highly inte-
ractive medium which provides users a great freedom in producing and
reproducing the content and form of the information during the interac-
tion. It enabled people from every corner of the world to represent them-
selves in a particular way and stay connected in cyberspace. Thus; a ma-
jority of people use social media to interact and seek for information.
The benefits of social media on human society and the youths espe-
cially can never be over emphasised. For instance, social media has
made the youth to be better informed by helping them keep abreast with
the happenings around the globe. It has also made many unemployed
youths to be aware of job opportunities around the world with many of
them being gainfully employed. Additionally; social media has immen-
sely assisted those in the academics. Complex research tasks can be
easily accomplished through social media. For example; In 2018, a team
of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley used Twitter to
study the spread of misinformation about vaccines. They collected over 1
million tweets related to vaccines and used a variety of machine learning
techniques to identify and analyse the most common types of misinfor-
mation. The researchers found that vaccine misinformation was more
likely to be shared by bots and accounts that also spread other types of
misinformation, such as political propaganda. They also found that vac-

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

cine misinformation was more likely to be shared during times of public

health crises, such as the Zika outbreak. The researchers’ findings were
published in the journal Nature Communications, and their work has
been used to inform public health campaigns aimed at combating vacci-
ne misinformation.
Additionally, in 2020, a team of researchers at the University of Oxford
used social media to study the mental health impact of the COVID-19
pandemic. They collected over 1 million tweets from people in over 100
countries and used a variety of machine learning techniques to identi-
fy and analyse the most common types of mental health problems that
were being discussed. The researchers found that the most common
mental health problems being discussed were anxiety, depression, and
loneliness. They also found that people in countries with stricter loc-
kdown measures were more likely to report mental health problems.
The researchers’ findings were published in the journal Nature Human
Behaviour, and their work has been used to inform public policy respon-
ses to the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are just two examples of how social media can be used to ac-
complish complex research tasks. Social media can be a valuable tool for
researchers who are studying a wide range of topics, including public
health, mental health, and social behaviour. Social media encompasses
various types of online platform and applications that allow users to cre-
ate unique and dynamic social contents and uses Web 2.0 technologies,
which contrast significantly with the more passive, top-down technolo-
gies that characterised Web 1.0 web pages. The different types of social
media include weblogs.

X is among the most popular social media platforms utilised by lar-

ge corporations, common users, and politicians alike all over the world.
Even Heads-of-State actively use this platform for communicating their
policy statements on various critical issues. X was launched in 2006 but
flourished rapidly in the last decade. It was reported that in 2023, X had
353.9 million monthly active users, with a gender distribution of 71.2%
male and 28.8% female. The majority of these users (59.2%) fell between
the ages of 25 and 49. Geographically, the United States had the highest

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

number of X users, followed by Japan, India, Brazil, and Indonesia. Ad-

ditionally, on average, a X user tweeted 1.3 times per day and spent 35 mi-
nutes daily on the platform. (X, 2012). In addition to that, X has witnessed
remarkable growth since 2012, boasting over 353.9 million monthly ac-
tive users as of September 2023, while also handling more than 500 mil-
lion daily searches. It has solidified its position as a vital communication
tool in today’s digital landscape, with projections suggesting that its user
base will continue to expand in the years ahead. According to Statista, X
is anticipated to surpass 400 million monthly active users by 2026. In
2023; specific user statistics reveal a gender distribution of 71.2% male
and 28.8% female, with the majority falling in the 25 to 49 age group.
Geographically, the United States leads in Twitter users, followed by Ja-
pan, India, Brazil, and Indonesia, while on average, users tweet 1.3 times
daily and spend 35 minutes on the platform each day.

YOUTUBE

YouTube is a social media platform for sharing video content, and it

was launched at the beginning of 2005. It is regarded as the second most
searched website after Google Search. It has been estimated that aro-
und 2.5 billion monthly users (Most Used Social Media 2021, 2022) on
average watch videos for almost one billion hours every day (Goodrow,
2017). Another study estimated in 2019 pointed out that more than 500
video content/min is uploaded on YouTube (Hale, 2019; Neufeld, 2021).
It is claimed to be at the heart of multiple cultural and social trends in
today’s society. In the field of political communication, YouTube has bro-
ught the politicians and common public much closer. A classic exam-
ple of this is the collaboration of YouTube and CNN for US presidential
debates where the common public was able to ask questions directly.
Social experts touted that YouTube has altogether altered the political
environment (YouTube News: A New Kind of Visual News,). As noted by
the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism in their
report “YouTube News: A New Kind of Visual News,” in 2012, YouTube has
emerged as a significant player in the political landscape. This online
platform serves as a space for both traditional media outlets and inde-
pendent content creators to disseminate their perspectives. This diver-
sity of voices has ushered in a more open and democratic political disco-

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

urse. However, it has also raised concerns about individuals retreating

into their own political echo chambers, highlighting the dual nature of
YouTube’s influence.
In alignment with these observations, Sherry Turkle (2011), in her
work “The Networked Self: Identity, Community, and Culture in the In-
ternet Age,” underscores how YouTube has provided individuals with
a powerful platform to express their political beliefs and connect with
like-minded individuals. This has fostered a more polarised political
landscape, where differing views can clash. Simultaneously; it has made
it easier for people to discover and engage with others who share their
values, showcasing the nuanced impact of YouTube on contemporary po-
litical discourse.
A famous example of utilising social media for political communica-
tion in the past decade is the ongoing war in Ukraine. The ongoing war
in Ukraine began in February 2022, and the Ukrainian government has
been using social media extensively since then. The use of social media
by the Ukrainian government has been particularly effective in raising
awareness of the war and its impact on the Ukrainian people, and in mo-
bilising international support. They have used platforms like Twitter, In-
stagram, and Facebook to raise awareness of the war and its impact on
the Ukrainian people, to mobilise international support, and to counter
Russian propaganda.
One example of how the Ukrainian government has used social me-
dia effectively is the use of the hashtag #StandWithUkraine. The hashtag
has been used over 30 million times on Twitter alone, and it has hel-
ped to spread the message of support for Ukraine to a global audience.
Another example of how the Ukrainian government has used social me-
dia effectively is the use of live streaming. Ukrainian officials have used
live streaming to show the world the devastation caused by the war and
to share their stories with the world. This has helped to humanise the
conflict and to build empathy for the Ukrainian people.

FACEBOOK

Facebook is one of the leading social media networks operated world-

wide. According to Facebook’s first quarter results announcement
in 2022, there are nearly 2.8 billion active users on the platform each

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

month. (Facebook Reports First Quarter 2022 Results, 2022) in 2020

and was listed as the fourth most used global internet service. Also, it
was touted as the most downloaded mobile app in the last decade. Face-
book can be simultaneously accessed from multiple internet-connected
devices. The first step for Facebook users is the registration of an acco-
unt that can then be set up with some personal information. The perso-
nal profile page of every user stores the content shared by the user and
is known as the “Timeline” since 2011 (Gayomali, 2011; Panzarino, 2011;
Schulman, 2011; Knibbs, 2015). It allows users to post pictures, videos,
and text to be shared either with people added as friends or publicly
with people all over the world. Facebook users can interact privately as
well through instant messaging and also have the option to join groups
and follow pages according to their interests. It played a revolutiona-
ry role in interconnecting individuals all over the world and providing
a platform to share personal views, opinions, and data with the audience
of their choice (Carlisle, 2015). It was as early as 2008 that public figu-
res including politicians started exploring this new avenue for informa-
tion sharing and narrative building (Carlisle 2015). With time, political
communication became a new normal globally as Facebook provided
a state-of-the-art advertisement platform with a wide audience range
(Bossetta, 2018).

WHATSAPP

WhatsApp, founded in 2009 by former Yahoo employees Brian Acton

and Jan Koum, has emerged as a transformative communication tool
with significant implications for shaping political mindsets. This free
-to-download messenger application leverages the power of the internet
to facilitate not only text messaging but also low-cost voice calls, image
sharing, and video communication. WhatsApp’s unique ability to ena-
ble smartphone users to seamlessly exchange multimedia content over
the internet has revolutionised political discourse. Extensive research
has highlighted WhatsApp’s role in political engagement. For instance,
a study published in the journal “Political Communication” (Zeller, 2018)
demonstrates how WhatsApp has become a hub for political discussions
and information dissemination, particularly among young adults and
teenagers. Group chatting features on WhatsApp have facilitated the

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 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

formation of political communities, allowing users to share and discuss

news, opinions, and campaign updates.
Moreover, the impact of WhatsApp on political mobilisation cannot be
understated. A report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journa-
lism (Newman et al., 2019) emphasises how WhatsApp has played a pi-
votal role in political campaigns, enabling candidates to directly engage
with voters and share their platforms at a fraction of the cost compa-
red to traditional text messaging services. The ease of voice messaging
and location sharing further enhances political outreach and activism.
WhatsApp has transcended its initial role as a simple messenger app
and now stands as a critical platform for shaping political mindsets,
fostering political engagement, and facilitating political mobilisation
among diverse user demographics.

WEBLOGS

Weblogs, commonly referred to as blogs, have evolved into dynamic

online platforms for information dissemination and global engagement.
These digital journals are characterised by chronological organisation,
frequent updates, and their intended audience of the general public.
Additionally, blogs often include interactive features that allow users to
comment on posts, fostering a sense of community and facilitating di-
scourse (Pew Research Center, 2022).
In the contemporary digital landscape, a multitude of blogging plat-
forms cater to diverse needs and preferences. Notable examples inc-
lude Squarespace, Blogger, WordPress, and LiveJournal, each offering
a user-friendly and customisable experience for creating and mana-
ging blogs (Grossman, 2021).
The influence of blogs on the internet and society continues to
expand. They serve as powerful tools for individuals, businesses, and
organisations to share insights, promote products, and engage in me-
aningful conversations with their audiences (Hendricks, 2019). Accor-
ding to recent data from Statista, as of 2023, there are over 600 million
blogs globally, illustrating their enduring relevance and significance
in the digital age (Statista, 2023). A 2012 study by the Centre for Stra-
tegic and International Studies found that blogs played a role in the
Arab Spring uprisings. The study found that blogs were used to orga-

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The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

nise protests, spread information, and build solidarity among activists.

Also, a 2018 study by the University of Oxford found that blogs were
used to spread misinformation and disinformation during the 2016 US
presidential election. The study found that Russian actors used blogs
to create fake news articles and social media posts that were designed
to influence voters.
In summary, blogs, or weblogs, have transformed into dynamic plat-
forms for information sharing and public engagement. With a diverse
array of blogging platforms available, they remain a vital component
of online communication, shaping conversations, and providing indivi-
duals and entities a means to connect with their target audiences.

WIKI

Wikis have emerged as influential online platforms that facilitate

extensive collaboration in shaping political mindsets through the use
of hypertext on the internet. These digital spaces typically host content
that represents a collective effort from diverse authours, enabling virtu-
ally anyone with internet access to actively participate by contributing,
editing, deleting, or modifying political information and perspectives
(Jemielniak, 2020). One noteworthy example of the impact of Wikis on
political mindsets is Wikipedia. Wikipedia, founded in 2001, has beco-
me a prominent and widely used source of political information (Wi-
kipedia, 2021). Its collaborative nature allows individuals worldwide to
contribute to articles related to political figures, events, ideologies, and
policies, making it a significant player in shaping public perceptions
(Giles, 2015). Moreover; Wikipedia’s articles on political topics often un-
dergo extensive discussions and revisions, reflecting the dynamic na-
ture of political discourse and the diverse viewpoints that contribute to
shaping it (Reagle, 2017). Wikipedia’s role in political discourse and the
shaping of political mindsets continues to be a subject of academic in-
terest and analysis (Jemielniak, 2020). However, it’s essential to acknow-
ledge that developments in the influence of Wikis on political mindsets
may have occurred since that time.

22
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

PODCASTS

Podcasts have emerged as influential digital platforms for shaping

political mindsets by providing users with downloadable audio or video
content that can be accessed at their convenience. These content for-
mats are frequently offered through subscription models and web syn-
dication, allowing users to engage with political discourse directly on
their personal computers or portable media players.
One prominent example of the role of podcasts in shaping political
mindsets is the proliferation of political podcasts that cover a wide ran-
ge of topics, from current events to policy analysis and political ideolo-
gies (Bounegru, 2019). These podcasts often feature expert guests and
engaging discussions, making them a valuable resource for individuals
seeking diverse political perspectives (Kern & Darr, 2016). Podcast con-
tinue to play a crucial role in political education and engagement, with
an ever-growing audience seeking information and opinions from this
medium (Pew Research Center, 2021). It’s important to note that the in-
fluence of podcasts on political mindsets may have evolved further since
that time.

3. Social media and politics

In today’s interconnected world, information is essential for under-

standing and engaging with others in all aspects of life. Social media
is a powerful tool for information sharing and interaction, providing
a virtual meeting place for people to discuss and debate social issues,
regardless of their physical location (Abubakar et al., 2021). With the
click of a button, we can now access information, entertainment, and
events from all over the world, and interact with others from different
cultures. Odoemelam (2010) observe that the new media of communica-
tion have in no small measure helped human society to be aware of each
other. This agrees with the submissions of Baran (1998) that: as the me-
dia shrink the world, people will become increasingly involved in one
another’s lives, and people come to know more about others who were
hitherto separated from them by distance, they will form new beneficial
relationships. Okoro (2013) opined that Baran’s perspective is pertinent

23
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

to this discourse as it directs our attention to the role of social media

in shaping contemporary human communication, specifically in the
context of fostering relationships and facilitating interactions among
people.
In pursuing elected office, political candidates are likely to exploit any
opportunity to facilitate making contact with voters to raise their profi-
le, make known their position on key issues, and claim recognition for
policy successes (Lassen & Brown 2011). The campaign is about making
contact with voters, sharing information with them in an attempt to in-
fluence the way they vote, and getting them to vote. In Nigeria, political
parties and individual politicians have very active social media accounts
to disseminate information to social media users and voters (Michae-
lsen, 2011). Online activities related to politics are useful and encourage
people to participate in political events (Vissers, 2008). Social networks
are pathways that help people’s decision-making and cooperation pro-
cesses by flowing information among people. Hence; they connect dispa-
rate people who might have similar world views. Advances in computing
power and new social technologies have only recently facilitated the de-
velopment of forms of networked communication that are automating
and accelerating the social, signals that pulse through the human ne-
twork daily (Aral, 2012). Erick (2012) posits that the role of social media
in democratising media participation heralds a new era of participato-
ry democracy, with all users able to contribute news and comments. Its
usage in politics and power struggles earned them the status of “the fo-
urth or political news and information, and many adults in Nigeria espe-
cially when it comes to election time. Large and popular social media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are used to target political
communication campaigns (Kugelman, 2012).
As stated by Pate in 2014, social media has evolved into a cost-effective
and highly efficient means of engaging vast audiences for political ob-
jectives, thereby enhancing political processes and practices. Pate (2014)
further emphasises that social media serves as a valuable tool for foste-
ring political development. Additionally; the internet and social media
platforms offer young populations opportunities for engaging in politi-
cal discourse through numerous online groups, pages, and accounts.
The utilisation of social media for a political campaign is now a very
common practice globally. All the major political parties maintain their
active presence on social media platforms to effectively communicate
their policies and opinions. Michaelsen (2020). One of the most impor-
tant collective attentions in social media can be seen during electoral

24
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

campaigns which are a period when political parties and their suppor-
ters try to maximise the influence of their messages over voters. Resear-
chers show that citizens are in a tendency to exposure to more political
discussions on social media (Brundidge, 2010). Creating data for politi-
cal parties and politicians in social media can be heuristically conceived
as if people’s attention to them. Notwithstanding, it cannot guarantee
that all this attention can be interpreted as support for parties or politi-
cians in elections. In this case, it is important to analyse the dynamics
of collective attention toward political parties and politicians in social
media. Also, it is shown that in some cases the signal of social attention
is related to election results.

4. Media and political participation

The use of social media in elections initially became noticeable in the

preparations for the 2011 Nigerian elections, and now receives more at-
tention. The growth and utilisation of social media in the political acti-
vities in Nigeria have continued to attract a converging body of studies
which serves as the foundation for this current investigation. For exam-
ple, Okoro and Nwafor (2013) examined social media use for political
participation in Nigeria during the 2011 general elections using survey
research method. Findings showed that many use social media to make
a vital input in the political discourse, while others used them to attack
opponents, spread false rumours, hate and inciting messages, which
were believed to have contributed to the violence and tensions witnes-
sed before, during, and after the elections in many parts of the country
(Abi-Mershed, 2016). Kperogi (2023) in his article further buttresses that
social media emerged as a pivotal battleground to mold public opinion
and set an agenda: however, the potency of social media to affect and de-
termine voting behaviour may be limited but significant. The opposition
All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election used
social media as a great deal to de-market the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP). Dakuku (2017) elucidates that advocates for or against a political
actor, party, and politicians, easily contend to win over people to their
site via colonial media.
President Buhari had the Buhari Media Centre, once described by Fa-
rooq Kperogi as a Mind Management Centre and interactive platform

25
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

set up to project the Buhari personae, as well as counters the vitriolic

attacks of critics of the government he leads. Adum (2018), citing Okoro
& Nwafor (2013), observed that before the 2011 election, subscription to
and usage of social media platforms for political movements are not well
pronounced in Nigeria. Despite that some popular social media existed
before 2011, social media users were more concerned with their social
and entertainment functions than political participation. In Nigeria, the
subscription to social media follows the world pattern as Facebook made
a giant stride in 2011. Adelakun (2018) further buttressed that Facebook
was utilised for socialisation and other functions like political partici-
pation and monitoring. Twitter also added some weight to the number
of users. Many Twitter accounts were opened and managed on behalf of
politicians who were not familiar with the platform or too busy to explo-
re it themselves for their political campaigns (Andersson, 2015). Other
social media networks such as LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Skype and
Pinterest stimulated Nigerians’ interest as access to the internet became
more lubricated through the use more for social entertainment than po-
litics. Before the 2015 general election, internet access had improved,
and many Nigerians on social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter,
swelled. It solidified the foundation upon which the political terrain de-
veloped and the growth of political marketing via social media in Nigeria
(Okoro & Nwafor, 2013).
The media’s greatest strength is its ability to allow the mass audience
to engage in interaction. However; the media is not without some serious
challenges, which can serve as an impediment to its ability to serve as
a platform where members of a nation can share ideas about govern-
ment policies and by extension influence government agenda. In Nige-
ria; the social media landscape is often characterised by falsehood ru-
mours, attacks, political and religious fanaticism, and hate speeches to
malign, intimidate and discredit opponents, Arinze (2023). For example;
some political analysts opined that Peter Obi (the presidential aspirant
of the Labour party in the 2023 Nigerian general elections) was popular
only on social media and should not be deceived by the massive follower-
ship he had on social media. Arinze (2023) elucidated that campaigning
for a politician on social media is not a yardstick to winning an election
because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no
polling unit on social media. Therefore; political parties that have no de-
finite structures would not make any good headway.

26
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

5. Social media and the nigerian political landscape

Broadly speaking, political participation is the involvement of citi-

zens in the country’s political system. According to Griffin and Cole-
man (2015), political participation is seen as a set of rights and duties
that involves formerly organised civic and political activities. It is a civic
responsibility to be carried out by the populace of a particular coun-
try. Through political participation, citizens can choose who would lead
them and are therefore indirectly involved in the decision-making pro-
cess of their country. They can vote for people and also put themselves
out to be for. Invariably; political participation allows people to influ-
ence issues in their communities and country. Political participation
is realised through the process of election. Through elections, ordinary
citizens have the power to proffer continued decision-making to exi-
sting leadership of their community or out rightly reject them and elect
new ones. Therefore; through elections, the electorates can consciously
evaluate the performance of the existing leaders and pass either a vote
of no confidence on them or endorse them for continuity. The process
of casting votes during an election is known as voting (Zahida & Yin-
nus, 2014). They further clarified that citizens use voting as a means of
expressing their approval or disapproval of current leadership, gover-
nment decisions, policy and programs, and the qualities of the candi-
dates. Jackson (2011) emphasised that the relationship between indi-
cations of online support for candidates and election outcomes needs
to be studied as one part of a broader and complex range of determi-
nants of election outcomes. We know that election outcomes are linked
in important ways too, first, the activities of political parties in terms
of ‘policies, branding, activities, personalities and image and, second,
cleavages within society’ (Jackson, 2011). Campaigns and candidate ac-
tivities to promote policies, develop a party brand, and make known the
personalities involved are also recognised as making a difference. Ah-
mad, and Al-Qaraghuli (2013) studied social network systems as a tool
for political change. Their findings clearly showed that social media
was widely used as a communication network to engage candidates and
voters.
Quantitative examinations of the relationship between online so-
cial media activity and election results are just beginning to be carried
out. Analyses of the relationship between the use of social media and
election results have led some to the conclusion that such activity mi-

27
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

ght have been able to inform accurate electoral predictions (Bollen, et

al, ,2011). For instance; by providing information about politics, social
media invites participation and mobilisation and plays a vital role in
political education as well as the mobilisation of the public in politics
(Doris, 2014). According to the latest statistics; as of January 2022, Ni-
geria had 32.9 million active social media users. WhatsApp is the most
popular platform used in the country, with over 90 million users. Face-
book, YouTube, and Instagram followed as the most used social media
platforms in Nigeria.
According to a report by Freedom House, the Nigerian government has
enforced strict control over online activity by using tactics such as “in-
timidation, the arrest of critics of the regime, and the filtering of online
information” (Freedom House, 2021, p. 6). Similarly; a research article
by Obijiofor and Nwankwo corroborates this claim, stating that the Ni-
gerian government has been known to “use legal and extralegal means
to suppress dissenting voices and prevent them from expressing them-
selves online” (2019, p. 16). These are obstacles that limit the capacity of
Social Media to create a democratic space for debate. However; networ-
ked forms of communication, such as those which happen through So-
cial Media, may enable people to bypass the control system, overcoming
authoritarian regime censorship (Benkler, 2015). However Social Media
did allow a more open political discussion that would otherwise not have
been possible under the conditions of a restrictive media environment
(Goldstein2008) Since the new epoch, the internet and social networ-
king sites like Facebook and Twitter have become new opportunities to
energise political participation and civic engagement in democracy and
modern politics Ukwoma (2012) found out that the advent of affordable
mobile phones and data services enables many Nigerians to utilise so-
cial media networks to enhance virtual interaction. Opeibi (2019), in his
analysis, expatiated that political actors and organisations; on the other
hand, have found social networking platforms to be one of the fastest
and effective ways to mobilise support and canvass for votes during po-
litical campaigns and even during elections. Omenugha, Ukwueze and
Malizu (2011), in their study; found out that the 2011 general elections in
Nigeria marked a significant milestone in the use of social media for po-
litical communication in Nigeria. They averred that; political aspirants
disposed of all means to gear up their support base. Goodluck Jonathan,
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Pastor Chris Okotie and some other aspirants
made use of social media like Facebook, Twitter, NaijaPals, Nairaland
among others; to engage the youths in discussing their political policies

28
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

and programs, following the realisation that campaigning in modern-

day 21st Century politics requires more than just handshakes and phy-
sical persuasion.
Moreso, 2015, 2019 and 2023 witnessed a massive use of social networ-
king sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Blogs during the general
elections in Nigeria. In their survey; Chinedu-Okeke and Obi (2016) opi-
ned that, due to their participatory, interactive and cost-effective nature,
the mentioned social media became more user friendly during the 2015,
2019 and 2023 general elections because they were heavily relied on by
political stakeholders for political campaign and marketing. Chinedu
-Okeke and Obi (2016) further asserted that social media became a ve-
ritable and powerful instrument for political campaign and marketing,
political engagement, mobilisation and other electioneering activities.
Accordingly; the place of social media in rallying political support is no
longer in doubt. As buttressed by Opeibi (2019), among the over forty
registered political parties in Nigeria during the 2015 and 2019 gene-
ral elections, two major political parties, the ruling party; The People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party; The All-Progres-
sives Congress (APC) dominated Nigerian political Muhammadonline.
It was recorded that some political actors and stakeholders during the
2011, 2015 and 2019 general elections in Nigerians used social media
platforms for negative political purpose at some point, which incited
violence and questioned the authenticity of election results. Also, some
of the utterances made by political actors during political marketing be-
fore the 2011 general elections in Nigeria fueled the post-elections vio-
lence of 2011 in Nigeria, aided by the rapid spread of political campaign
messages on social media. Future studies can look into these areas as
they may threaten the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
Also, critics averred that President Muhammad Buhari of the APC
created personal Twitter and Facebook accounts to promote his presi-
dential ambition and it was more pronounced during the 2015 and 2019
general elections in Nigeria. He used the platforms to mobilise support,
persuade, influence and educate voters during the electioneering period,
while former president Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the PDP utilised
cyberspace as a platform to report achievements and solicit further sup-
port (Opeibi, 2019). As Herring (2013) observed, their tweet feature on
Twitter has become a significant component of social media. Twitter as
an interactive micro blogging platform can be utilised in political mar-
keting due to its peculiar features such as retweets, hashtags and text
limited to 140 characters. The Nigerian political terrain witnessed the

29
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

deployment of retweets’ nature, which stimulated voters and became

a useful political advertising device.
Gambarov, Zenelaj & Belba (2015) in their analysis of how political
parties use social networks for the political discussion of their respec-
tive party in Nigeria, found that this election explicitly practiced in the
United States for many years since 2008, when Barrack Obama; the then
-presidential candidate of the Democratic Party started using social me-
dia platforms for political marketing. Their findings showed that Alba-
nia Socialist Party in 2013 relied on or made use of social media to woo
candidate electorates during the general election in the country through
effective political marketing strategies. The researchers concurred that
the All Progressives Congress Party’s campaign was a total success and
the All Progressive Congress came to power after sixteen years through
a big victory made possible by essential political marketing through so-
cial media. Nigerian politician sat the state level uses online channels
to reconstruct and rebrand their personality profiles to crowd sour-
ce followership (Gambarov, Zenelaj & Belba, 2015). For instance; doing
the 2015 governorship election in Kaduna state, the candidates of the
two leading political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deployed Twitter to
complement their traditional media campaigns. The use of these strate-
gies by the political parties showed the increased awareness of the po-
tential of using social media among the ruling political elites in Nige-
ria. Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; the then-candidate of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) used his Twitter account extensively to project his image
and flaunt his credentials as the best political candidate to solicit votes
(Opeibi, 2019).

6. Theoretical Framework

Social Media Engagement Theory

To explore the role of social media in political awareness, discussion
and strategies for better elections, the study adopts an all-encompassing
approach based on the Social Media Engagement Theory (SMET) (Liu &
Wu, 2020). SMET explains how individuals engage with content on social
media platforms through active participation and interaction. The the-
ory identifies various forms of engagement, including likes, comments

30
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

and shares, that facilitate the expression of opinions and reactions to the
content (Koo, 2020).
A key component of SMET was the sense of social presence that users
experience, which refers to their level of connectedness to both the con-
tent and other users on the platform. This enables users to feel a sense
of community and trust in the shared information (Koo, 2020). The role
of social influence is another vital aspect of SMET. People tend to enga-
ge with content that is popular or shared by people they trust, leading
to the dissemination of information and ideas through connected user
networks. However; this can lead to the formation of echo chambers and
confirmation bias, where users only interact with ideas that confirm
their existing beliefs and perspectives (Bessi & Ferrara, 2016).
SMET also highlights various factors influencing an individual’s level
of engagement on social media, such as the platform, type of content and
user characteristics (Lichtenstein & Williamson, 2017). Gamification,
which uses game-like mechanics such as badges, points and leaderbo-
ards to encourage user engagement was an effective tool on social media
platforms (Hamari, Koivisto, & Sarsa, 2014). An understanding of SMET
is essential for optimising social media’s positive impacts while minimi-
sing the negatives; such as psychological harm from excessive use (Alha-
bash & Ma, 2017). Implementing SMET principles can enhance user en-
gagement and social media’s role in political awareness, discourse and
election strategies. One example of how SMET has been used to generate
political awareness is the #MeToo movement. The #MeToo movement
was founded by Tarana Burke in 2006, but it gained widespread atten-
tion in 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano encouraged followers to use the
hashtag to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault on social
media. The movement used social media to raise awareness of sexual
harassment and assault and to empower victims to speak out about their
experiences. The #MeToo movement has had a significant impact on pu-
blic discourse and has led to changes in policy and practice.
Another example of how SMET has been used to promote political di-
scussion is the use of social media during election campaigns. Political
candidates and campaigns use social media to connect with voters, sha-
re information about their policies, and mobilise support. Social media
has also been used to organise protests and rallies, and to coordinate
voter turnout efforts.
Therefore; understanding and applying SMET is crucial for maximi-
sing benefits and minimising risks of social media engagement.

31
The Role Social Media Play in Generating Political Awareness, Discussion And Strategies for Better Elections

7. Conclusion

Social media has emerged as a powerful force that transcends econo-

mic, political, and social boundaries, uniting people from diverse back-
grounds. Its significance lies in its capacity to reshape the governance
process, providing a platform for increased citizen participation by fo-
stering awareness of government activities. In essence, the proliferation
and utilisation of social media platforms have had a profound impact on
communities, institutions, and governments worldwide.
One of the notable contributions of social media is its role in dissemi-
nating information about state political systems, political activities, and
political mobilisation. It serves as a conduit for citizens to access real-ti-
me updates on government affairs, bridging the gap between governan-
ce and the governed. Social media tools possess the potential to bolster
societal roles and elevate citizen engagement in democratic processes.
Information, a vital component of governance, plays a pivotal role in en-
hancing good governance by promoting accountability, transparency,
openness, and responsiveness. Government actions and decisions are
now subject to public influence and monitoring through the lens of so-
cial media.
However; it is evident that while many have harnessed technology wi-
sely to campaign for candidates, engage in one-on-one interactions with
candidates and constituents, report on local events during elections and
share personal perspectives while gauging public opinions, there exists
a dual nature to the impact of social media. On one hand, it has facili-
tated relationship-building, idea sharing, problem-solving and the ad-
option of best practices, benefiting society in several ways. On the other
hand; its misuse has the potential to sow chaos and division, threatening
national unity and stability.
Nigeria; with its unique diversity, has historically aimed to preserve
and enhance unity in diversity. Recent threats to these objectives have
emerged due to the misuse of social media. It is imperative to redirect the
use of social media, not only for political participation but also for eco-
nomic and religious engagement, creating awareness across all spheres
of society. By harnessing the reach and potential of social media, we can
work toward strengthening unity in diversity, promoting a harmonious
and inclusive society. Now is the time to refocus social media’s influen-
ce to guide people towards broader participation, foster awareness, and
ultimately enhance unity in the midst of diversity.

32
 Emmanuel Jibb Adams, Joy Ofordi, Abduljalil Abdulmumini, Jamila Musa Isah

8. Recommendations

To prevent the misuse of social media and avoid chaos and national
disunity, the following recommendations are necessary:
• It is essential to review the media laws to address the technica-
lities involved in new media technologies. This will ensure that the
technology is more beneficial to society and is adequately used in
the electoral process. Laws and regulations regarding the dissemi-
nation of false information must be strictly adhered to, and defaul-
ters must be made to face the appropriate consequences.
• The government must make an effort to monitor, moderate, or re-
gulate social media platforms to minimise weaknesses and maxi-
mise the technology’s intrinsic values in the electoral process. Ad-
ditionally; politicians, political parties and their supporters should
be cautioned against using social media to post or tweet dysfunc-
tional messages. The establishment of laws and penalties for such
acts is also recommended.
• Public enlightenment on the use of social media platforms for po-
litical purposes, especially among youths, must be conducted pe-
riodically. The government should spearhead this campaign, uti-
lising instruments such as the Ministries of Information at both
state and federal levels, the National Orientation Agency, the mass
media, among others.
• Political candidates should improve their strategies to engage ci-
tizens through social media by understanding the public’s percep-
tion of political parties and how shared content on social media
platforms influences their intentions to vote.
• Finally, the government should consider passing the Cyber Crimes
Act of 2015 bill into law to prevent the misuse of social media plat-
forms and protect citizens from online fraud and cyberbullying.

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