According to 2023 Reuters Institute Digital News, In Nigeria, only 17 percent of active TikTok users use the platform majorly for Consumption of news content. This shows the country’s position as one with the lowest number of users implementing social media for receiving news content in Africa. In contrast, South Africa was recorded to mark a higher percent of users for consuming news content at 22 percent, and in Kenya, the TikTok users for receiving news is 29 percent.
Since 2018, report stated that there has been a decrease by 10 percent in initiation of news through apps or website, leaving around 22 percent, approximately a fifth of respondents, currently participating in the method. In Africa, statistically, 63 percent of the population in Kenya placed their trust on the sources of news content many a times, while in Nigeria, 95 percent get shared news videos online on social media and 23 percent prefer to watch news through the use of news apps and platforms.
Curation of news preferences based on previous choices entices users.
Despite the discouragement of intentional circulation of false information on social media by journalism’s ethical standards, a vast number of social media users still strongly rely on the news received from social media platforms. It was discovered that users are increasing due to the selection available for users to choose news from different sources and according to their preferences, which are later curated based on these preferences. From the respondents’ comment, it was considered that news are selected based on their previous reads, giving a decrease by 6 percent in comparison to a 2016 inquiry.
Also, in aspects of news consumption, the respondents demonstrate keen interest in social media personalities, influencers, celebrities and social media personalities more than journalists. This was more apparent on social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. These platforms have helped users to create news content and cover events, without the aid of professional journalistic backgrounds like traditional news outlets such as newspapers and news shows. The contrast is visible in ongoing deliberations on Twitter and Facebook as journalists and news media continue to join in the conversation.
Online users avoid news stories that could affect their mental health.
Research also has it that age has to do with the choice of consuming social media news content or traditional news. Apparently, the young age group prefer getting social media news content or other intermediary platforms to visiting news apps or sites. Approximately, about 79 percent of 18-24-year-olds prefer receiving news from social media platforms. This report reviews the disinterest of the users in the emaciating connection between the younger audiences and news apps. Thus, TikTok grows faster among the younger users in terms of news distribution.
TikTok becomes the fastest-growing social platform with data of 44 percent active users, particularly between youths aged 18 to 24. The report revealed that audiences avoid news stories that could cause mental depression and anxiety, making their mental health a priority. In Nigeria, social media has grown unimaginably over the past decade, and is greatly promoted by different factors such as gaining access to information and news, staying connected with relations, keeping up with trends and updates, and for basic interactions.
Nigerians spend the longest amount of time on social media.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) stated that Nigerians dedicate the longest hours on social media, compared to other countries. Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter are known to be the most popular social media platforms in Nigeria and used by Nigerians. However, earlier this year, Technext accounted that WhatsApp is the most-used social media platform in Nigeria according to their statistics. In contrast, Datareportal, based on updates to Google, affirmed that YouTube ranked the social media platform with the highest number of users in Nigeria.
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Datareportal: Website
Social media becomes news content platform – Across Africa, Nigeria has the lowest number of social media news consumers. – Express your point of view.
It is important to note that the landscape of news consumption is continually evolving, and social media platforms are gaining popularity across Africa, including Nigeria. As internet access improves, digital literacy increases, and social media platforms address concerns like misinformation, the number of social media news consumers in Nigeria could potentially grow in the future.
The rise of social media as a news content platform is a fascinating development. It’s clear that people are increasingly turning to social media to stay informed about current events. However, it’s interesting to note that Nigeria has the lowest number of social media news consumers across Africa. This might be due to a variety of factors, including differences in internet penetration rates and cultural attitudes towards social media. Regardless of the reasons, it’s important for people to have access to reliable news sources no matter what platform they use to consume news.
The power social media wields is so enormous. This is why it I’m Nigeria, a lot of people use it to get news. Although most Nigerians don’t listen to news, but mostly what entertains them.
It’s exciting to see how social media is becoming a forum for news information. It’s obvious that more individuals are using social media to keep up with current affairs
Social media is not something to joke because it has a great power of disseminating information to reach every corner of the world and Nigeria is also not sleeping on this.
It is significant to remember that the way in which news is consumed is constantly changing, and that social media platforms are becoming more widely used throughout Africa, including Nigeria but our country has the lowest number of social media news consumers.
Social media becomes news content platform. Social things is fast growing day by day. News travel faster more faster on social media platform than other means now. Many people are involved in social media nowadays
The way social media is developing as a source of news information is fascinating. It’s evident that more people are using social media to stay up to date on current events we have to increase the number of social media news consumers.
Nigerians have seen so many false news bring disseminated on the social media that have created a lot of commotion in the country, this have resulted in less trust on social media news.
Several incidence have discourage Nigerians from relying on social media news though with high number of social media users. Because of the porous nature of the internet and the tendency for some unscrupulous element to upload false information for general consumption it to difficult to rely on social media news. Moreso, the plurality of Nigerian society will discourage the increase of social media news consumers.