Browsing by Author "Jacobs BABAFEMI"

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    Social Media, Attitudinal Change and Youth Involvement in Political Processes
    (LCU, 2025-04) OGUNFESO Emmanuel O.; Adebayo ALADE; Jacobs BABAFEMI
    The study investigated youth perception and attitude towards voting, the impact of social media on voting behaviour, motivating factors for voting, and gender differences in youth participation in the 2023 general election. It applied the use and gratification theory, which suggests that individuals actively seek media content that fulfils their needs. A phenomenological design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of participants' experiences and perceptions. Data was collected through in-depth interviews conducted in three phases: before, during, and after the 2023 general election in Nigeria. Purposeful sampling was used to select diverse participants engaged in political activities, with recruitment conducted through social media platforms. An interview guide with clear and open-ended questions was developed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study findings indicate that youth have diverse motivations and considerations for their participation in the upcoming election, with social media influencing their perceptions and decisions. Concerns about electoral fraud and youth discouragement were expressed,emphasising the importance of transparency and youth empowerment for increased participation in future elections. The results reflect a combination of optimism and scepticism regarding youth engagement in the electoral process. Based on the study findings, it was recommended that there is need for implementing comprehensive civic education programmes, improving transparency and accountability in elections, promoting youth representation through affirmative action and mentorship, addressing youth-specific concerns, utilising social media for political education, fostering youth collaboration and networking, addressing electoral violence and intimidation, and conducting long-term monitoring and evaluation.