Social media and the politics

Greetings!

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The media and politics have always been together from the time immemorial. And separating cannot just happen anymore as they have both come a long way than to be separated. They are both stocked together like Siamese twins. Like I said, their togetherness is intertwined and nothing can come in between both.

Now, things have really improved from the analog days of media practices to digitized media practices. So also, there's been changes in the way politics is being played compared to what's used to be in the past. So, in lieu of this, I would like to treat the topic of how social media have been able to influence the politics of the land, most especially in my country Nigeria.

Like I said earlier, the media and politics are two inseparable things and now the improved form of media practices from what used to be the paper and the radio or television media practices to the social social media practices through the advent of technological built gadgets and apps has really influenced and brought news to the political landscape of my country.

The use of social media by everybody in the country has really helped in shaping the politics of the land. It's really helped in shedding more light on how politics should be played both by the larger voters and the politicians who are canvassing for the votes of the citizenry. It helps in educating the voters on how to go about voting the candidate of their choice. It's on this note I would like to discuss the three ways through which social media has influenced the politics of my country. The three ways are: on the part of the voters, the election management body, and the politicians.

Let me start on how social media has greatly influenced the electorates otherwise known as voters in my country. One thing I would not dispute is the ability of social media to create this political awareness in the heart of the Nigerian electorate. Take for example, the last general election in the country. The 2023 general election was a battle of social media among the supporters of the various political parties.

The use of Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms really played a major role in the run up to the decision.

Though the use of social media didn't really determine the outcome of the election, it really played its pivotal role of putting all the players involved in the election on their toes.

It's on the social media you will see voters canvassing votes for their preferred candidates, it's on the social media you would see people have series of debate on the chances of the candidates, it's on the social media you get to know more about the characters and the antecedents of the candidates. So, people, especially the electorate, really made use of social media to the fullest before, during and after the last general election in my country.

Also, on the part of the electoral umpire, the INEC, the body saddled with everything concerned with elections in my country, the social media also shaped their activities most especially at the run up to the election. Due to their poor performances in the previous elections, the voters made use of social media to express their mind to the electoral body there by putting them on their toes. And also, on the part of the electoral body, they were able to step up their standard in preparation for the election. Though they later failed, notwithstanding, the influence of social media can be seen in the way they prepare for the election.

Also, they too were able to debunk rumors peddled against them by the electorates via their social media handles. It's really an interesting thing back then. Though, the same influence still continues till tomorrow.

Also, on the part of the political class, they too really made use of social media before and during the election and not only that, they were still making use of it even as of today. Before the election, most of their campaigns were being streamed live via the social media's network, not only that, their press releases were also being released via the social media platforms.

Also, during the election proper, most of them and their supporters were able to monitor the election proceedings via social media. It's then you see how results were trickling in via the use of the various social media platforms. Also, the tribunal proceedings on the outcomes of the election result as filed by the opposition or those of them that lost the election were being monitored via the use of social media.

Even now, when the government that won the election has been put in place in my country. The voters and the opposition have been making use of social media to express their feelings to the government in power. Not only this, the voters via the use of social media are always putting the government and its officials on their toes through constructive criticism via the use of the social media. Also, the government in power is also using social media to defend their policies either masses friendly or not.

Though, as good as social media is, some of the voters and the opposition have been abusing it by peddling fake news up and down against the government of the day. Some are even in the habit of carrying false rumors about government officials. All these are the negative side of the usage of social media in politics.

But overall, social media and its utilization by the people, most especially the voters and the political class has immensely improved. It's also helped in influencing the political process of the land and also creating full political awareness in the heart of the populace.

This is my entry to week 162, Edition 01 of the weekly Featured contest in the Hive Learners community.

Thanks for reading.

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