The term “Digital” can be defined as any data represented with a series of digits, and “Media” refers to a method of broadcasting or communicating information. Digital media, then, refers to any information that is broadcast to us through a screen. This includes text, audio, video, and graphics that is transmitted over the internet, for viewing on the internet, as oppose to print media like newspapers, magazines, and books. The use of digital media relations by the Federal Government of Nigeria that comprise the dissemination of news, information and immediate feedback on issues on digital media platforms like social media, online forums, e-mails and websites is all geared towards passing accurate and timely information to the general public who engage these online platforms. Since 2008 when the Nigerian information portal was launched by the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency and managed by the Federal Ministry of Information, the use of digital media relations by the Federal Government was kick-started. From that point, other digital media relations channels were created like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter accounts to supply information about the activities of government to Nigerians, and vice-versa. In this articles, we will look at the effect of digital media in government- citizen relationship in Nigeria.
Digital media has provided a platform for government-citizen interaction in the public sphere. It has provided higher levels of participation for young people and an avenue for the public to demand for accountability through social media platforms like Twitter. The technology of the internet provides an atmosphere conducive for contemporary transnational political activism. Its characteristic speed and space facilitate international communication among nongovernmental organizations. It allows protesters to take local level events to the international level with minimal resources and bureaucracy. Through connectivity, more people are able to participate and awareness is raised. It also gives a voice to those who do not have one while ensuring that those who participate are socially empowered to organize themselves and form alliances on a transnational level using the tool of digital media through the social media to bring about social change.
A perfect example of digital media for social change is well formulated in the turn of events in the country on the #EndSARS movement. The movement was made popular by the agitations of young people to end police brutality, through social media. The protests were sparked by a video that surfaced online on October 3, allegedly showing a SARS officer shooting a young man in Delta state. This generated an outcry on social media, especially Twitter, where the hashtag #EndSARS began trending globally, and led to protests across Nigeria and in other cities around the world. This has made the collective voice of Nigerian citizens to be heard all over the world, and it is forcing the government to respond to the demands of the citizenry, just as a democratic state as Nigeria ought to enjoy. Also the activities of the Bring Back Our Girls (#BBOG) movement – an activist campaign in Nigeria that raised awareness which resonated across the world, including the UN and the White House following the kidnap of over 300 school girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram. This campaign couldn’t have gone viral without the help of social media.
Governments too, have learnt to use social media for counter attacks and to present their own side of the story. While in the U.S Government, communication directors combine both responsibilities for social media and traditional media, the Nigerian government has appointed a Special Adviser to the President on Social Media. As governments are discovering, web pages, social media and mobile technology hold great potentials to enhancing communication between governments, journalists and citizens. Government communicators can get more information out faster to reporters than when they are physically present in the newsroom. Governments can use tweets and blogs to clarify information, deal with rumours and counter falsehood and misinformation. Governments can also present their information, pictures and videos directly to the public without going through the filters of the news media.
The Nigerian government has created several websites providing details such as monthly Federal allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory. Some of these website are tied to government agencies like the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, etc. Through the postings of what is accrued to each state, citizens are able to monitor precisely what each state derived from the federation account. It provides the platform to engage state governments and hold them accountable in terms of how they utilize the state resources.
On a final note, the digital media is making interaction between Nigeria government and her citizens possible to a large extent. It has given voice to every Nigerian to express freedom of speech as a fundamental human right, and demand accountability from the government in an instant and two-way interaction. Digital media has come to stay as a tool for massive involvement in the democracy of Nigeria, one that the citizens should utilize well.
Sources
CYBERCRIMES (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) ACT, 2015 National Assembly, Abuja
Jimada U. Social Media in the Public Sphere of Accountability in Nigeria. Global Media Journal 2019, 17:32.
Jimme G. Matyek (2017). THE PERCEPTION OF THE DIGITAL MEDIA RELATIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA BY MOBILE INTERNET USERS IN PLATEAU STATE. 92 Public Relations Journal ISSN: 1115-4144 Vol. 13, Issue 1&2, pp. 92-101, 2017.
Poushter J, Bishop C, Chwe H (2018) Social media use continues to rise in developing Countries, but plateaus across developed ones.
Rayburn, Dan (2012). Streaming and Digital Media: Understanding the Business and Technology. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-03217-2.
Smith, Richard (2013). “What is Digital Media?”. The Centre for Digital Media. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
This article was written by Adedamola Adeyemo