Full Project – Appraisal of the effectiveness of social media during the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown in Delta state

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Social media as a component of the internet are fast becoming very popular means of both interpersonal and public communication in Nigeria and the world at large. Social media are modern interactive communication channels through which people connect to one another, share ideas, experiences, pictures, messages and information of common interest. What distinguishes the social media from the conventional means of communication is their interactive nature which allows the audience to participate in it from any part of the world they reside.

McQuail (2O1O, p.39) differentiates the social media from the traditional mass media when he noted that “traditional mass communication was essentially one-directional, while the new forms of communication are essentially interactive.” This interactive aura of the new media confers an unprecedented popularity on them.

The social media by their nature have the capabilities of educating, informing and entertaining the audience. Above all, they possess a “contagious and outreaching influence” which the conventional media lack. This potential is most likely what Osahenye (2012, p.52) refers to as “unstoppable power of the social media.”

Over the years, social media has become an active technological tool in Nigeria; as well as a news and communication channel for the citizenry of Nigeria. Access to mobile telephony especially among the technologically savvy youths has made dissemination of information easy with a snap of the finger. In recent times, as the pandemic encroaches on and emasculates world activities, social media platforms have been utilized as an information outlet to citizens. Its significance has gained more recognition owing especially to the fact that the government implemented a lockdown policy to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Thus, it has become an active tool for engagement and communication for the dissemination of plausible information as well as incredulous (mis)information.

Social Media is an offshoot of the Internet and according to DiMaggio et al. 12001, p. 307). the Internet refers to the electronic network or networks that link(s) people and information through computers and other digital devices; thereby allowing for person-to-person communication and information retrieval. The Internet is a major tool that emerged for the purpose of information dissemination; thus, the media acts as an information hegemon in terms of determining what information is made available to people as well as the impression people have on issues (Savrum & Leon,

Largely, Social Media is the collection of websites and web-based systems that allow for mass interaction, conversation and sharing among members of a network (Murphy, 2013, p. 3). These diverse media outlets and communication networks played an important role in facilitating uprisings such as the Arab spring (AlSayyad & Guvenc, 2015, p. 2025). Its power lies in live pictures conveyed by video recording of events as it unfolds.

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is an infectious disease causes respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe respiratory difficulties. It originated from the Hunan seafood market at Wuhan, China where live bats, snakes, raccoon dogs, wild animals among others were sold in December 2019 (Shereen et al.,2020, pp. 91-98) and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11th March 2020 (WHO, 2020). Since its identification, the virus is said to have accounted for about 512,311 deaths globally out of a swooping statistic of 10,514,028 positive cases which sadly increases exponentially daily (WHO, 2020). The first victim of the virus in Nigeria was an Italian man who arrived in the country on the 25 February 2020. He was admitted to an Isolation Centre in Yaba Lagos after showing symptoms of the virus (NCDC 2020). Subsequently, the cases increased and, as at the time of

this paper, almost 28,711 positive cases and 11,665 recuperated persons have been identified (NCDC, 2020).

Noticeably, Nigeria is trying to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19 through immediate lockdown of the major epicenters of Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja: commercial and administrative hubs of the country; where there have been spike of coronavirus cases. Some state governors have also taken proactive actions by closing their “borders” in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus.

Other measures include prohibition of mass gathering of people at churches, sports arenas and burials while schools were closed nationwide. The achievement of these feats can be attributed not just to proper healthcare facilities but also to the impacts of social media in the country. Its platforms: WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have become varying means of communication and engagement by not just the government but by the general populace.

Contrarily, social media is also utilized as a means of propaganda in disclosing news and information, which at most are based on assumptions and speculations. On this note, this study intends to investigate the effectiveness of social media on residents of Ogwashi-Uku during the coronavirus lockdown in Delta State.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The social media has over the years become an indispensable tool in the hands of people as they struggle to keep tab of each other in a busy world. Social media has become the link through which individuals relate, interact and see the outside world. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many nations of the world, including Nigeria, embarked on a compulsory and highly necessary lockdown to curtail the spread of the novel virus.

This lockdown led to the closure of schools, shopping malls, churches, mosques and other worship centres, business places, markets and even government offices. This therefore threw the entire world in general and Nigerians in particular into a state of confusion and isolation. The social media became the only source of escape for everyone.

However, social media is a two-edged sword. Depending on how it is used and perceived, social media is capable of bringing both positive and negative impacts to its users especially during the coronavirus lockdown. This study therefore became imperative in order to determine the overlaying effectiveness of the social media on Ogwashi-Uku residents during the coronavirus lockdown in the state.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Generally, this study is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of social media on residents of Ogwashi-Uku during the coronavirus lockdown in Delta State. Specifically, the study aims to:

Examine the extent at which residents of Ogwashi-Uku are exposed to social media during the coronavirus lockdown.
Determine whether residents of Ogwashi-Uku made use of social media more during the coronavirus lockdown than they did before.
Know what purpose the residents of Ogwashi-Uku used the social media during the coronavirus lockdown.
Determine whether there is a significant relationship between the use of social media by residents of Ogwashi-Uku and their coping mechanism during the corona virus lockdown.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be answered in this study:

To what extent were residents of Ogwashi-Uku exposed to social media during the coronavirus lockdown
Did residents of Ogwashi-Uku make use of social media more during the coronavirus lockdown than they did before?
For what purpose did the residents of Ogwashi-Uku make use of social media during the coronavirus lockdown?
Is there a significant relationship between the use of social media by residents of Ogwashi-Uku and their coping mechanism during the coronavirus lockdown?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The coronavirus came hard on the entire nation of Nigeria specifically and the world like a tsunami. The deadly virus gave everyone reasons to seek for refuge in various ways. The coronavirus lockdown was introduced in haste not minding what impact it would have on the citizens whose daily lives depends on interacting with each other. This study is very important as it has the potency to determine what role the social media played during the lockdown and what impact it had on the residents of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State.

The results of this study shall serve as a reference material for future researchers who may take up a broader or narrower study of this subject or related subjects. The study shall also be of great significance to policy makers in Delta State especially those in charge of disease control in determining better communication medium to be used- in disseminating information to the public.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited in scope to the effectiveness of social media on residents of Ogwashi-Uku , Delta State during the coronavirus lockdown in Delta State. The study is concerned with determining how the social media was used by Ogwashi-Uku residents during the coronavirus lockdown and what impact it has on them. Geographically, the study is limited to Ogwashi-Uku, the capital city of Delta State, and Nigeria.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

In the process of conducting this research work, there were some limitations and constraints. The greatest challenge being the epidemic outbreak of COVID-19 which drastically affected the academic calendar for the year as mapped out by the school administration. Apart from the time constraint, it was a great challenge gathering this Information because of finance due to the current condition of the country to get financial assistance was very difficult.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Social Media: Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.

Coronavirus: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Lockdown: A lockdown can be defined as an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving a given area. A full lockdown will mean that the people in the given area must stay where they are and must not exit or enter a building or given area.

Impact: An impinging or striking especially of one body against another, a forceful contact or onset also: the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact.

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