Social Media and Hashtag Activism in Nigeria: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Recent events suggest that there is a relationship between the social media and Hashtag activism in Nigeria. This relationship came to the fore when #ENDSARs protesters opened the floodgates of various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to mobilize and upload sights and sounds of young people demanding change from the government. This paper "Social Media and Hashtag Activism in Nigeria: A Narrative Review" employed the narrative review method, anchored on technological determinism theory to explore the relevance of social media and hashtag activism in Nigeria. The study found that hashtag activism has now become a revolutionary communication tool for mobilization, advocacy, and creation of awareness about developmental projects toward entrenching social change across the country. The paper concluded that with the right disposition and needed synergy, social media and hashtag activism are catalysts for creating a new culture that elicits change from the government in Nigeria and beyond. The study recommends extensive study on the power of social media in developing a new communication revolution and amplifying the voice of minority groups in the country.