Browsing by Author "Omowale Taofeek ADELABU"

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    Online Anonymity and Contents Credibility: Challenges and Opportunity
    (LCU, 2025-04) Atinuke Ibironke FANIMOKUN; Omowale Taofeek ADELABU
    This study explores online anonymity and the perceived credibility of online contents with a focus on the challenges and opportunities particularly in this digital communication era. The paper is anchored on Source Credibility Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory. A cross-sectional quantitative research method was employed while the data collection instrument was structured questionnaire using to elicit responses from 317 respondents who were simple randomly selected from Mass Communication Department of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. The study found that majority of the respondents nearly 80% often encounter anonymous contents, while, substantial number of the respondents over 73% disagree that anonymity increase trust. Equally, 52.7% of the respondents maintain that anonymous contents is less credible than content with known authors or sources. Correspondently, Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient further stressed a negative correlation (rs = -0.9788); revealing that as anonymity increases, the online credibility decreases too. The study, therefore, recommended that integrating verified anonymity tools, promoting digital literacy, encouraging proper source citation, and guiding the strategic use of anonymity for sensitive discourse not only in Nigeria but globally.