| Abstract: |
In the contemporary world, social media have shaped and affected virtually all aspects of human endeavours including politics. The political landscape has not only been broadened due to the use of social media, the degree of participation in politics and democracy has been exceedingly sophisticated with respect to the youths in Nigeria and the world at large. Scholars and theorists in political communication have come to term that a healthy democracy or any political system should be built on a popular participation among the citizens where the social media serve as the lubricant. In this study, the authors adopt a theoretical approach to reflect on the use of the social media to engender political participation in Nigeria. The authors explore the constructs of social media, political participation, digital democracy and public sphere, integrating the connection that exists among the constructs within the context of Nigeria and in general perspective. The study concludes with the implications of integrating social media in politics and democratisation process which thereof results into a healthy political participation among the youths. |
