Influence Of Social Media On The Diffusion of Information About The 2019 Xenophobic Attack On Nigerians In South Africa.

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of social media on the spread of information about the September 2019 Xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa. The aim of the study was to find out the genre of social media platform through which residents obtained information about the incident, find out if the residents were aware of the causes of the attacks and the social media platform through which they re-broadcast the information. The study was essentially a survey of 400 Minna residents, randomly drawn; questionnaire was used as research instrument. The findings show that the rate of diffusion was very swift, and that more respondents used Watsapp to first learn and follow-up the event Also most of the respondents were unaware of the causes of the attacks. Further findings revealed that Watsapp, Facebook and YouTube respectively were the major social media platforms through which residents in Minna rebroadcast the information. The study recommended that the government should do more of educating and sensitizing her citizens on the ills of attacking foreigners and to emphasize the economic and social benefits they stand to gain in terms of developments in their country. Government should implement stringent rules and punishment to citizens who spare head any form on xenophobic attack on foreigners amongst others.