| Abstract: |
The general aim of this study was to investigate the perception of social media users regarding fake news fact-checking habits in North West Geopolitical Zone Nigeria. To this end, the study adopted a mixed method research design by sampling 479 online survey respondents and 20 in-depth interviewees respectively. In order to collect quantitative data, an online questionnaire was created on Google Form designed using a Likert 5-point Scale. For the qualitative data component, in-depth interview guide was employed to elicit data from the participants. Findings of this study revealed that majority of respondents (301 0r 64.3%) reported encountering fake news primarily on Facebook, followed by WhatsApp with 115 respondents (24%). However, the result indicated that in North-West Geopolitical Zone Nigeria, the use of contemporary fact-checking methods is not as widespread as it should be even among professional journalists themselves. Thus, the study advised people who regularly access news through Facebook and WhatsApp to exercise greater caution regarding the content they seek and disseminate, given that these platforms have become fertile ground for all kinds of fake news in North West Geopolitical Zone Nigeria. Finally, the study also recommended for intensification of mass media literacy strategies in order to empower social media users in the region to engage in modern fact-checking information on social media before sharing with others. |
