| _version_ | 1866902039958650880 |
|---|---|
| author | MKPA, Grace Afia Akpan, Church S. Bassey, Bassey Esuk |
| author_facet | MKPA, Grace Afia Akpan, Church S. Bassey, Bassey Esuk |
| contents | <p class="Normal1"><strong><span>Abstract</span></strong></p> <p class="Normal1"><span>The study examined digital media usage in the 2023 general elections in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study included: finding out the predominant digital media platform that Akwa Ibom electorate were exposed to election messages in the 2023 general elections; examining whether digital media used in the 2023 general elections enhanced their participation in electoral activities; determining the challenges posed by digital media in the 2023 general elections, as well as finding out whether there was disparity in the usage of digital media between urban and rural electorate in the 2023 general elections among Akwa Ibom residents. The study was anchored on the Technological Determinism Theory and Techonology Acceptance Model. This study employed survey research design and a total of 400 respondents constituted the sample size drawn from the population of 2, 351, 418 registered voters in Akwa Ibom State in 2023. Results of the study revealed that exposure to election messages on digital media was high and that 81% of the electorate made use of social media platforms as the primary channels of information on the elections. A total of 62.6% of the respondents admitted digital media enhanced participation of citizens in electorate activities. However, 47.1% agreed that digital media usage abated the spread of misinformation and hate speech during the 2023 elections. The disparities in digital media usage between urban and rural electorate revealed significant inequalities, with 53% of respondents identifying location as a factor that influenced their digital engagement. The study concluded that there is a strong relationship between digital media literacy and voters’ ability to identify credible election-related information. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommended that: government and stakeholders should invest in digital literacy programmes particularly in rural areas and that digital media should be utilised to facilitate interactive engagement between voters and political actors.</span></p> <p class="Normal1"><strong><span>Keywords: </span></strong><span>Digital, Elections, Electorate, Media, Usage </span></p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_20340877 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Digital Media usage and the 2023 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria MKPA, Grace Afia Akpan, Church S. Bassey, Bassey Esuk <p class="Normal1"><strong><span>Abstract</span></strong></p> <p class="Normal1"><span>The study examined digital media usage in the 2023 general elections in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study included: finding out the predominant digital media platform that Akwa Ibom electorate were exposed to election messages in the 2023 general elections; examining whether digital media used in the 2023 general elections enhanced their participation in electoral activities; determining the challenges posed by digital media in the 2023 general elections, as well as finding out whether there was disparity in the usage of digital media between urban and rural electorate in the 2023 general elections among Akwa Ibom residents. The study was anchored on the Technological Determinism Theory and Techonology Acceptance Model. This study employed survey research design and a total of 400 respondents constituted the sample size drawn from the population of 2, 351, 418 registered voters in Akwa Ibom State in 2023. Results of the study revealed that exposure to election messages on digital media was high and that 81% of the electorate made use of social media platforms as the primary channels of information on the elections. A total of 62.6% of the respondents admitted digital media enhanced participation of citizens in electorate activities. However, 47.1% agreed that digital media usage abated the spread of misinformation and hate speech during the 2023 elections. The disparities in digital media usage between urban and rural electorate revealed significant inequalities, with 53% of respondents identifying location as a factor that influenced their digital engagement. The study concluded that there is a strong relationship between digital media literacy and voters’ ability to identify credible election-related information. Based on the findings of the study, the study recommended that: government and stakeholders should invest in digital literacy programmes particularly in rural areas and that digital media should be utilised to facilitate interactive engagement between voters and political actors.</span></p> <p class="Normal1"><strong><span>Keywords: </span></strong><span>Digital, Elections, Electorate, Media, Usage </span></p> |
| title | Digital Media usage and the 2023 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20340877 |