ASSESSMENT ON THE POPULARITY OF TWITTER (‘X’) USAGE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENT AFTER BAN LIFTING IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Of The Study Social media has long been recognized as a mode of human connection in which people produce, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. The growing popularity of social media platforms has resulted in the creation of new digital social networks in which people can engage and share information, news, and ideas at an unparalleled rate and ease. As a result, the adoption of such technologies appears to have the potential to modify contemporary social configurations and relations (Zhang, Johnson, Seltzer, & Bichard, S. 2010). With the introduction of the internet as a new media environment and opportunity, the rate at which social ties that go beyond geographical and cultural boundaries are created is quite alarming. One of the current social networks that connect people through the internet is Twitter - a free-access website that allows its users to join networks, connect, and interact with other people. With the growing popularity of social networking sites (SNSs), one can only begin to imagine the rapidly increasing population of the internet as a way to communicate with others around the world (Turow, 2010; Udejinta, 2011). Oyero (2013) contends that presently, a large majority of university students, who a few years back were unlikely to have heard of the internet, cannot easily.Twitter, like other social networking sites, has become an important place where youths invest their time and search for entertainment, knowledge, meaning, identity, and friendship. Boyd (2007, p. 2) explains that social networks give young people a sense of community and access: ―Youths are trying to map out a public youth territory for themselves, removed from the adult culture. They are doing so online because their mobility and control over physical space is heavily curtailed and monitored. As a result, Twitter encourages dialogue and public participation in a variety of human-interest topics. Thus, the unrestricted participatory character of Twitter has provided several chances for the public to engage in dialogues about a variety of environmental issues (an experience in Nigeria) (Sajindra et al (2013). More specifically, company owners and cooperative organizations have used Twitter to market their services. Twitter's significance and benefits cannot be emphasized. It has provided as a platform for reaching out to clients and targeted audiences, consequently fostering business growth for small and medium-sized firms. As a result, it is clear that Nigerian citizens are using Twitter for purposes that are acceptable for them, most notably to voice ideas and exercise free speech on societal and political issues, among other things. 1.2 Statement Of The Problem Following the suspension of President Muhammadu Buhari's account for breaking the social media company's "abusive" behavior rules, the Nigerian government halted Twitter's operations in the country. Buhari's account was suspended for 12 hours after he threatened to punish regional secessionists accused of attacking government buildings (Aljezeer news report). However, in a statement made in Abuja on Friday, 5 June 2021, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension of Twitter, citing the platform's persistent usage for actions capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence (Aljezeera.com). Thus, this erratic choice has a massive impact not only on Nigerian society, but also sends the erroneous signal to foreign investors, and small businesses in Nigeria which rely on Twitter for a livelihood would be equally impacted. "Businesses in Nigeria use digital media to attract customers, expose their brands, and connect with numerous stakeholders," Sesan explained to AlJazeera. As a result, the citizens of the country have been limited by this ban as most social media users in Nigeria are acquainted with the use of Twitter for sharing educative, urgent, and business information. They also use Twitter to express their opinions and participate in both social and political matters. According to Aljezeera's interview with Emmanuel Alumona, "Twitter is similar to my local newspaper. When I want to check what's going on in the country and people's opinions, I refresh my timeline; nevertheless, it's too difficult to tolerate Twitter's ban because most Nigerians, including myself, may no longer be kept up to date on societal affairs". it is therefore upon this background that this study aims at identifying the causes and consequences of the Twitter ban on Nigerian people. 1.3 Objectives Of The Study The major target of this study is to assess the popularity of twitter usage after the ban lifting in Nigerian: a study of UNIBEN students. Below are the specific objectives of this study. i. To examine the major causes of the Twitter ban in Nigeria. ii. To determine the negative effect of the Twitter ban on Nigeria's citizens. iii. To Identify the rationale for lifting twitter ban in Nigeria iv. To establish whether twitter retain its popularity in higher institution after the ban lifting v. To investigate the extent of twitter usage among UNIBEN students after the ban lifting in Nigerian. 1.4 Research Questions i. What are the major causes of the Twitter ban in Nigeria? ii. What are the negative effect of the Twitter ban on Nigeria's citizens? iii. What are the rationale for lifting twitter ban in Nigeria? iv. Does twitter retains its popularity in higher institution after the ban lifting? v. What is the extent of twitter usage among UNIBEN students after the ban lifting in Nigeria? 1.6 Significance Of The Study This study will deeply unveil the unforeseen effects of the mercurial decision against the use of Twitter in Nigeria. In light of this, the study will also educate/apprise the Nigerian government on the dangers that the indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country may cause, as well as enlighten them on the importance of listening to the voices of their citizens.More so, for businesses in Nigeria which use Twitter to reach their customers, this study will be of great use to them as the study will not be considered complete without proffering solutions that will be practically applicable. Lastly, this study will serve as a source of relevant information for students, researchers, other academics, and the general public. 1.7 Scope Of The Study This scope of this study borders on assessing the popularity of twitter usage after the ban lifting in Nigerian: a study of UNIBEN students. Below are the specific objectives of this study.The study will further discuss the major causes of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, determine the negative effect of the Twitter ban on Nigeria's citizens., Identify the rationale for lifting twitter ban in Nigeria, establish whether twitter retain its popularity in higher institution after the ban lifting and investigate the extent of twitter usage among UNIBEN students after the ban lifting in Nigerian. 1.8 Limitation Of The Study Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scantiness of literature on the e popularity of twitter usage after the ban lifting in Nigerian discourse. Thus much time and organization was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection. Also the study is limited in period as the study covered only university student with preference to UNIBEN students. On the respondent of the study, only members of political parties and media houses in Abuja was sample for the study Therefore findings of this study cannot be used for generalization for other universities in Nigeria which creates a gap in scope and gives room for further studies. 1.9Definition Of Terms Social media Social media, basically, concerns all forms of new media technology that offers interactive sharing of information, videos, pictures, text and comments with such websites as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, Youtube and Blogs. Twitter Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as "tweets". Ban A ban is a formal or informal prohibition of something. Bans are formed for the prohibition of activities within a certain political territory.