EFFECT OF TWITTER BAN ON THE ECONOMY OF NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the twitter ban on Nigeria Economy using selected Corporate organizations in Lagos State  as a case study. The study was aimed at Identifying the sectors/areas affected by twitter ban in Nigeria. The study outlined the negative effect of the ban on those sectors.  The study adopted a survey research design and conveniently enrolled participants in the study. A total of 150 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from the staff of 10 selected corporate organization in Ikeja Axis of Lagos State. Data was analyzed using frequency and tables. Findings from the study revealed that twitter ban has affected the Nigeria Economy. Most sectors that were affected include Technology companies, free lancers, digital marketers and telecommunication companies and small and medium scale businesses with online presence.

Findings from the study also revealed that Businesses whose operation were basically online via e-commerce found it difficult to connect with their online customers due to the ban, The ban reduced the data usage of internet users hence the profit margin of telecommunications companies were affected. The researcher therefore recommends that Product/service quality and customer satisfaction is another means of creating awareness whereby the customers of the brand become the first ambassadors of the product to the public. Therefore,All business organizations affected by the ban should utilize other social media platforms as means to create awareness of their product to the public and try more strategic approach to e-commerce to enhance their proficiency.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background Of The Study

The introduction of the internet has revolutionized the way we interact with people as well as in the process of sharing information and knowledge (Sobowale, Amodu, Aririguzoh, and Ekanem, 2015). According to Oyero (2007), the internet has had a significant impact on society, commerce (businesses), and government.Significantly, the internet through social media has enhanced socio-economic growth and development in both developed nations and developing countries. According to Amodu (2008), the introduction of ICTs in any community or nation generally engenders unpresented levels of transformation. Oso (2011) pinpointed that one of the requisite of the social media is the view that they are seen as the strategic tool for economic advancement, that is they can contribute to cultural, human, social, political and economic development of a nation. Among these social media outlets who facilitate development in an economy is the twitter.

Twitter is a platform for acquiring knowledge, attaining information and enabling communication between people. This has helped human lives in numerous ways. Twitter is seen as a market place for ideas and creativity (Danbatta, 2017). The implication of twitter on humans and the society has gone beyond the exchange of information but has become a powerful communicative force in politics, economy, religion and educational realms of the society (Onyejelem, Ude-Akpeh & Uduma, 2015).

For businesses to experience growth, expansion and revenue, they need to engage in communication ads to gain existing and new customers. That is, they need brand awareness and development to reach potential customers and one way to achieve this is through the use of social media platforms. The twitter to this end has been essentially used by corporate and non corporate businesses in Nigeria for carrying out operational activities which has led to the growth and development of those businesses.  Twitter has also served as a source of income for many Nigerian youths who carry out one economic activity or the other on the platform. More so, the presence of Twitter in Nigeria has in the past years encouraged foreign investment in the country.

However, as at 5th June 2021, Nigeria joined other countries in the suspension of Twitter operations in its own country. Following the indefinite suspension of Twitter on 5th June 2021 in Nigeria by the Federal Government and as announced by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, global voices have reacted in varied ways concerning the implications such a ban could have on the country’s fledgling economy (Vanguard news.com). Hence, the unforeseen economic implications of this erratic decision by the Nigerian Government instigated this study. This study therefore seeks to investigate and examine the effect of the Twitter ban on the economy of Nigeria.

• Statement Of The Problem

Highlighting the implications of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, the suspension is assumed to come with its own different negative impacts on an economy that is currently struggling to find its bearing (Vanguard, 2021). According to the online newspaper, “The ripple effect of the ban will impact economic activities, some of which are sources of income for millions of young Nigerians. The suspension will also affect online news platforms that leverage Twitter to extend their reach and bring news closer to the people. ” For telecoms, the suspension will result in a dip in data revenue as Twitter remains one of the most popular social media platforms in Nigeria. It further stated that the platform has provided employment opportunities for young Nigerians. “The popularity of the social media platform has seen a growing number of young Nigerian influencers who are often recruited by public relations companies to promote brands. Hence the suspension of Twitter will halt their sources of income and also affect the reach of these brands.” aside from the above mentioned sectors affected by the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, other essential sectors are likely to be affected by this execution. Hence this form the bases for this study.

• Objective Of The Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of twitter ban on the economy of Nigeria; below at the enlisted specific objective of the study;

1. Identify the sectors/areas affected by twitter ban in Nigeria
2. Outline the negative effect of the ban on those sectors.
3. Identify weather twitter ban has a negative effect on unemployment in Nigeria.
   • Research Question

This study will be guided by the following questions;

1. What are the areas affected by the twitter ban in Nigeria?
2. What is the negative effect of the ban on those sectors?
3. Has twitter ban increase unemployment rate in Nigeria?
   • Significance Of The Study

This study will be relevant in various ways among them include;

This study will enlighten the Nigeria Government on the numerous economic implication of twitter ban and apprise them economic contribution of twitter to the country and how it has offered income opportunities to many Nigerians. And, above all, this study will also unveil the massive effect of this ban on Nigeria’s society.

This study will serve as a source of information for students, researchers, Twitter users and even the public, who may carry out a study related to this.

• Scope Of The Study

This study focuses on identifying the sectors/areas affected by twitter ban in Nigeria and the negative effect of the ban on those sectors. The study will also investigate weather twitter ban has a negative effect on unemployment in Nigeria. Hence this study will be delimited to selected cooperate organizations in Lagos State.

1.7. Limitation Of The Study

The main limitations of this research, among others, include time constraints, as the writer only had a limited amount of time to complete it. Financial constraints and language barriers, in particular, were significant limiting factors in this research.

• Definitions Of Terms

Economy:

The state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money.

Social Media:

Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities

Twitter:

Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking website 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.

REFERENCE

Amodu, L., O. (2008). The Role of the Internet in Achieving Sustainable Development of Rural Africa: A Fact or a Farce? Ibadan University Press, p. 285-288. In Mojaye, M., Oyewo, M. M’Bayo, R. and Sobowale, I. Health Communication, Gender Violence and ICTs in Nigeria.

Danbatta, U. (2017). Role of Social Media in Economic, Political and Social Development of Nigeria. First annual lecture of CKN News in Lagos on June 13, 2017.

Onyejelem, T. E., Ude-Akpeh, C. E. & Uduma, N. E. (2015). The economic potentials of social media and the Nigerian developing society: an appraisal. International Journal of African and Asian Studies, 15, 108-116.

Oso, L. (2011). Mass Media and Society in Nigeria. 2nd Edition, African Books Collective, Oxford: UK.

Oyero, O. (2007). The implications of internet on the media and the practice of mass communication. International Journal of Communication, 6 (1), 170-174.

Sobowale, I., Amodu, L., Aririguzoh, S. & Ekanem, T. (2015). The Internet as a Tool for Information and Education: The Case of Ota Community in Nigeria. Proceedings of EDULEARN15 Conference, 8232-8240

The economic implication of Twitter ban in Nigeria by Steve Babaeko (Vanguard News): https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/the-economic-implication-of-twitter-ban-in-nigeria-by-steve-babaeko/

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