International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 9(3), pp. 69-80, April 2021

 ISSN: 2360-7831

DOI: 10.14662/IJELC2021.075

 

Review

 

Abstract

 

The use of media in mobilization for protest actions has become a necessity in every social movement. The use of social media has been very influential in attaining this cause. The study examined the perceived value of social media in the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria. It analysed the kinds of messages that were posted on social media and the reactions to various turn of events in the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria. Survey and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to generate data. The study employed The Public Sphere Theory and Technological Determinism Theory. 389 questionnaires were shared among the #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria, while in-depth interview was conducted with five special advisers to the governor on social media in five mostly affected states. Lack of exhaustive list of the protesters allowed the study to use convenient sampling in generating quantitative data and purposive sampling in selecting the respondents for the interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study discovered that majority of the protesters fall within the age bracket of 25-35. The study found that the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria was triggered as a result of several factors like unfavourable government policies. The study discovered that people who involve in the protest actions in Nigeria are mostly male. The study also discovered that social media platforms are good medium where people staged protest on issues affecting them. The findings of the study revealed that social media is an interactive medium where people come together to discuss issues. The study concludes that with the increasing use of social media in Nigeria, the citizens would continue to put pressure on government to address public issues. The study recommends that civil society groups in the country need to sensitize their followers on the usage of social media for effective participatory governance.

 

Keywords: #EndSARS, Nigeria, protest, perceived value and social media 

 

Cite This Article As: Maradun, L.U., Yar�Adua, S.M., Msughter, A.E (2021). Perceived Value of Social Media in the #EndSARS� Protest in Nigeria. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 9(3):69-80