THE FUNCTIONALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Abstract
National development is a representation of the growth level of any nation. One platform which Nigeria can leverage upon to achieve development is the social media also known as the Web. 2.0. Social media gives policy makers in government the opportunity to aggregate the needs of the people, while acting as a tool for national development. This study therefore examines the functionality of the social media and its implication for national development in Nigeria. In achieving the objective of this study, the study is guided by the following research questions: what are the functionalities of the social media for national development? and to what extent has the social media contributed to national development issues in Nigeria? Thus, we employed the documentary research method and the correlational research design while relying on content analysis. The study adopted the Technology Determinism Theory as its theoretical framework. The findings of this study among others shows that; social media is a tool for national development, and that to a large extent social media has influenced key national and social issues in Nigeria. The study conclude that the government can leverage upon the use of social media in its governance process. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of social media should be domesticated in Nigeria and that the government put in place technological infrastructures that will enhance the smooth usage of social media in Nigeria.
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