The Impact of Social Media Information in Checkmating Social Injustice and Bad Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

Social media has become a powerful platform for civic engagement in Nigeria, providing citizens with tools to challenge injustice, expose corruption, and hold leaders accountable. This paper examines the impact of social media information in addressing social injustice and poor governance in Nigeria, drawing on case studies such as the #EndSARS protests and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. While these movements demonstrate the transformative potential of digital platforms, the study also highlights the risks posed by misinformation and disinformation, which undermine credibility and polarise civic discourse. Using the lenses of Technological Determinism and Uses and Gratifications theory, this paper examines how Nigerians adopt social media, both as a tool for empowerment and as a channel vulnerable to manipulation. The findings emphasise that social media operates as a double-edged sword: enabling grassroots mobilisation while amplifying false narratives. The paper recommends stronger digital literacy programs, robust fact-checking mechanisms, and inclusive rural engagement to maximise the democratic potential of social media while minimising its threats.