CHAPTER 1: Introduction
The
concept “social media” has attracted many definitions from different
disciplines. In a lay man‟s explanation, it may simply connote “within group
interactive communication”. The “group” in this definition represents “social”
content of the definition. According Suomen Toivo–Think Tank (2012), social
media are new information network and information technology using a form of
interactive communication skills, where users produce the content of
information and interpersonal relationships are established and maintained in
the process. A typical social media services could be content sharing, web
communities, or an Internet forum (Sanastokeskus, 2010). In the same vein,
Kaplan and Heinlein (2010), defined social media as a group of Internet-based
application that ar2 built upon the ideology and technology of web 2.0 and
allows the generation and exchange of its content. On the social media, the
users are not passive like in the case of Television, Radio, and Newspaper;
rather they are active in the formation and exchange of information (Sweeter
and Laricsy, 2008).
Information
that emanated from a member of the forum might become topical and even spread
beyond where it was first discussed. Typical examples of social media include
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, MySpace, Skype, Instagram, Flipagram, and
Hi5. All these sites and applications have interactive options that facilitate
broadcasting and rebroadcasting of information. Aside from these websites,
these are also application that people are even more accessible to on
smartphones and androids. The applications include: BBM on which there are BBM
channels, where news and other information are created, broadcasted, and even
modified. There is also What Sapp application that facilitates the formulation
and dissemination of information. Others are Nimbuzz and 2go. They are not just
for news, but are also for gossips and rumours. In so many cases on social
media, what started out as rumours, gossip, or even speculation that are
reproduced and rebroadcasted as real, even though it was fake ab-initio. This
particular problem emanates from the user-to-user interaction found on social
media and distinguishes from the traditional media. In social media, the gate
keeping role of traditional media is eliminated.
In social
media, there are 5 major features that are easy to identify. According to
Suomen Toivo- Think Tank (2012), the features are social networking and social
interaction, participation, the use of social providers, openness, and
collaboration. These features are linked to the six classifications of social
media postulated by the same author. There classifications are: Social Networks
(Facebook, Google+, Myspace, LinkedIn); Media Products Community (Youtube,
Flickr, Slideshare); Blog Services (wordpress, blogger, Twitter); Information
Community (Wikipedia and Wikispaces), which is also referred to as
Collaborative Project (Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, 2012); Virtual
Community also called Virtual Game Worlds PLAC (2012) includes Second Life and
World of War craft; and Link Sharing Services (Digg and Diego). The social
media is a body of packages that users would find attractive and even hard to
do without.
1.1
Background
of the Study
The influence of the social media in the
modern day society is immeasurable. In fact, it has become the most accessible
source of information in the present day society. This information on the
social media is unregulated and sometimes, they tend to be biased,
presumptuous, and might even be tentative. Aside from these, the population of
bloggers is uncontrolled as many have the ability to create blogs and channels,
where information can be circulated. Unfortunately, the majority of the
accessible population to these information are unaware of these maladies.
The
social media influenced the 2015 general election through the opinion polls and
eventually, the broadcasting of the results, before the final release by
INEC. It is a comparative analyses of
social media opinion polls, results released via social media before the final
release of results, and the final result from INEC . The social media results
were sourced from wards and participating youth corps members in the electoral
procedures. The release of the results via social media increased political
participation as most people had first-hand results, before the final release.
These results were not just transmitted from the social media blogs, but were
also recirculated via social networking sites and applications. As a result,
the process added value to the Nigerian political culture and facilitated other
issues that might have ensued from the electoral process. The research intends
to investigate the effect of social media in the 2015 Election with a case
study of lagos state.
1.2
Statement
of the Problem
The social media
constitute one important source of information in modern day society In fact;
it has become the most accessible source of information in the present day
society. This information on the social media is unregulated and sometimes,
they tend to be biased, presumptuous, and might even be tentative. Aside from
these, the population of bloggers is uncontrolled as many have the ability to
create blogs and channels, where information can be circulated. Unfortunately,
the majority of the accessible population to these information are unaware of
these maladies. The social media pass information freely, because they are
unregulated. The information can come in the form of broadcast on social media
application, like what’s App and BBM, blogs; or even text messages. With the
unregulated nature of the social media, it is certain that many of the
information are not subject to scrutiny and may be conjured, misrepresentation,
or even misinformation. This in no doubt is the situation in which the 2015
election was conducted. The problem confronting this research is to investigate
the effect of social media on the 2015 election with a case study of Lagos
state
1.3
Objective
of the Study
1 To determine
the nature of social media
2 To determine the nature of the 2015
election
3 To determine the effect of social media on the 2015 election
4 To determine the effect of social
media on the 2015 election in Lagos state
1.4
Research
Questions
1 What is the
nature of social media?
2 What is the nature of the 2015
election
3 What is the
effect of social media on the 2015 election in Lagos?
1.5
Significance
of the Study
The study provides an appraisal of the nature of social media
which will enhance people understanding of its workings and applicability
It shall seek to determine its effectiveness in election
processes.
The study shall also serve as a source of information on issues
concerning social media
1.6
Statement of Hypothesis
1 Ho 2015 Election in lagos was not effective
Hi 2015 Election in
Lagos was effective
2 Ho The use of social media in
2015 Election in lagos is low
Hi The use of social
media in 2015 Election in Lagos is high
3 Ho The effect of social media on the 2015 Election in Lagos is
Low
Hi The effect of social media on the 2015
Election in Lagos is high
1.7
Scope
of the Study
The
study focuses on the appraisal of the effect of social media on the 2015
Election in Lagos.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Facebook – an online social
networking site that allows users to create their personal profiles, share
photos and videos, and communicate with other users
Twitter – an internet service
that allows users to post "tweets" for their followers to see updates
in real-time
LinkedIn – a networking website
for the business community that allows users to create professional profiles,
post resumes, and communicate with other professionals and job-seekers.
Pinterest – an online community
that allows users to display photos of items found on the web by
"pinning" them and sharing ideas with others.[16]
Snap chat – an app on mobile devices
that allows users to send and share photos of themselves doing their daily
activities.
Social media
technologies
take many
different forms including blogs, business networks, enterprise social networks, forums, micro
blogs,
photo sharing, products/services
review,
social bookmarking, social gaming, social
networks,
video sharing, and virtual
worlds