NAVIGATING POLITICAL SILENCE: THE IMPACT OF TWITTER BAN ON NIGERIAN YOUTH ACTIVISM

Abstract

Twitter has emerged as a vital forum for political activism and conversation,
particularly among young people. It is an effective instrument for political engagement because
of its capacity to promote quick information sharing, rally supporters, and magnify voices. The
consequences of this ban on political participation and communication have been significant.
It was extremely difficult for political movements that depended on the platform for
coordination and communication to stay visible and gain traction. It is a potent social media
tool that has transformed social interaction, communication, and information sharing across a
range of industries, including politics, entertainment, news, and private messaging. The study
aims to explore how youth activism and political participation have been affected by the ban,
as well as how they adapt and discover new ways to mobilise support and express their political
beliefs. The methodology of this study was gathered through primary data collection. The key
findings of the study are that the bans on Twitter led to a significant decline in political
participation among young people. In the absence of Twitter, young people are adopting a
variety of innovative approaches and techniques for political activism. This study concludes
that while censorship may inadvertently foster creativity and resilience in activists, pushing
them to develop new strategies, the implications of this kind of ban are profound. The study
recommends that to sustain youths’ political engagement despite challenges posed by Twitter
restriction; society must go back to the traditional route: an offline community-building effort
where youths can engage in discussions like town hall meetings and face-to-face interactions
with grassroots leaders like the Local Government Chairman to mitigate the effects of the
banned online space.