Undergraduate Students’ Perception of Social Media and Youth Political Participation in Nigeria's 2023 General Elections

Abstract

Thanks to the platforms made available by social media, which has now become a fully integrated part of almost every aspect of our daily lives, politics and political participation have been redefined. These platforms are strong enough to do and undo as they elevate communication above the constraints of traditional media. While the youths make up the sect that uses social media the most, there is reason to study whether or not these platforms help promote political participation among them, particularly the youths of Nigeria during the 2023 General Elections. In this context, the researcher analysed the perception of undergraduate students of Edo State University Uzairue of social media and the promotion of political participation in youths during the 2023 General Elections. The study used a survey and sampled 341 undergraduate students of Edo State University, Uzairue. The data collected was analysed using tables and percentages. The study indicated that undergraduate students of Edo State University Uzairue are frequent social media users and conversant with political participation. It was also revealed that WhatsApp is the most used social media platform for getting political information and participation. A number of the sampled students were involved during the elections, thanks to the social media platform. They acknowledged social media's importance in promoting and motivating political participation among youths despite the number of issues to be tackled.