NEW MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS IN THE TERRAIN

Abstract

Democracy in Nigeria no doubt gains momentum recently. This development coincides with an era of increased access to information by the masses courtesy of the new media and its numerous platforms and communication opportunities. Today, each member of the audience who is connected to the new media can not only access information, but can also create and share same on the various platforms for mass consumption. Democracy, which entails popular participation in the process of governance benefits immensely from this trend. This study explores the role new media plays in the consolidation of democracy in the country, with keen attention on the communication channels of the 2015 general elections, where new media championed the spread of information about the election, and the aftermath of the election period that paved the way for the present administration. Anchored on the Social Responsibility Theory, the study interrogates the extent to which new media platforms liberalize the process of political communication in the country, and the opportunities and threats which they harbor for democratic consolidation. The central argument in the study is that the new media presents a useful tool in the hands of activists and concerned citizens to participate in the government of the day and effectively play the watchdog role, a privilege which, hitherto, was far from reality. Sadly, however, several abuses exist that are threatening to rubbish the opportunities of the platform such as the prevalence of hate and dangerous speech, increased intensity of lies, mischiefs, falsehood and negative propaganda, and the use of comment sections to attack, verbally assault, bully and demonize co-discussants of political matters raised in the news via the numerous online platforms. To this end, the paper recommends a ‘cautious’ incorporation of the new media in the democratic process to pave the way for more participation.