Abstract

The freedom of expression and sharing of views through the social media platforms, which can be accessed by different people across the globe, is a welcome development. It offers the prospect for individuals to connect for social interactions and promote and support civic activities. However, social media has also been acclaimed as a platform for unruly persons to engage and conscript law-abiding citizens in causing civil unrest, threatening national security. The study examined the implication of social media on national security issues in Nigeria. Anchored on the uses and gratification theory, the study adopted a qualitative research approach, reviewing empirical literature as secondary data to find out the intrigues of social media on national security matters. The study found that Nigerians’ social media usage varies - positively and negatively. The study concluded that though social media can be leveraged for cultivating national cohesion and averting security problems before they erupt, its unregulated use among the populace can trigger real and perceived insecurity tendencies. By exploring the implications of unregulated social media usage, this study provides insights that can inform the development of social media policies and security regulations in Nigeria.

Key Words: Insecurity, Media Content, National Security, Nigeria, Social Media

About the Authors

* Ngozi Wellington, Ph.D., https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2771-7368 is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Mountain Top University, Ogun State, Nigeria. Her research interests include development communication, family communication, new media, and marketing communication.

** Adesegun Samson Adetola, Ph.D. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7753-616X is a Media Officer/Farm Broadcaster with the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. His research interests encompass Development and Strategic Communication, Agricultural Communication, Media Studies, Media Technology, Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Journalism.

*** Onyeche Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas, Ph.D. ORCID ID: 0009-0007-7130-1221 is the Director, Nigeria Youth Future Fund, LEAP Africa, Abuja, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on the nexus between mass media and social practice, with emphasis on development, identity, culture and politics.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 1, Special Issue 4, January 2026, pp. 111-119.

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Wellington, N., Adetola, A. S. & Agbiti-Douglas, O. E. (2026). Implications of social media on national security: An overview of social media data on security issues in Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (1, SP.4): 111-119.

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