Social Media and Government's Accountability

The study, Social Media and Government's Accountability: Reflections on the #EndSARS Protest in Nigeria, was set to determine public perception of the influence of social media on government accountability during the 2020 #EndSARS protest. Survey research design was used and questionnaire was adopted as the instrument for data collection. Findings revealed that social media platforms used mostly during the 2020 #EndSARS protest were the Facebook and Twitter. which were majorly deployed during the 2020 #EndSARS protest in Makurdi. The issues addressed by social media messages on these platforms were police harassment, police killings and unlawful arrest/detention. It was also revealed that the social media platforms were characterized by different formats of information such as written, pictorial and video formats. Lastly, it was revealed that government response to the demands of the public during the 2020 #EndSARS protest was positive, hence disbanding of SARS in Nigeria. The study recommends among others that the Federal of Nigeria and State governments should address youth unemployment by investing in their employment by creating long-term economic prospects for young people.

Autorentext

The authors are graduates of Benue State University (BSU). Cyprian Gbasha is studying for his Masters in Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano. Elijah Apev is the Human Resource Manager at the Obudu-German Specialist Hospital in Cross River State-Nigeria. Paul Iorlaha is also studying for his Masters in Mass Communication at BSU.

Klappentext

The study, Social Media and Government's Accountability: Reflections on the #EndSARS Protest in Nigeria, was set to determine public perception of the influence of social media on government accountability during the 2020 #EndSARS protest. Survey research design was used and questionnaire was adopted as the instrument for data collection. Findings revealed that social media platforms used mostly during the 2020 #EndSARS protest were the Facebook and Twitter. which were majorly deployed during the 2020 #EndSARS protest in Makurdi. The issues addressed by social media messages on these platforms were police harassment, police killings and unlawful arrest/detention. It was also revealed that the social media platforms were characterized by different formats of information such as written, pictorial and video formats. Lastly, it was revealed that government response to the demands of the public during the 2020 #EndSARS protest was positive, hence disbanding of SARS in Nigeria. The study recommends among others that the Federal of Nigeria and State governments should address youth unemployment by investing in their employment by creating long-term economic prospects for young people.