Social media regulation and freedom of speech in Nigeria (2015-2019)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine whether social media and freedom of speech should be regulated and whether regulating them would limit an individual's right to free speech. The research focused on social media regulation and freedom of speech in Nigeria between 2015 and 2019, where social media has become a platform for all kinds of content, including fake news, hate speech, and credible information. The study was based on the free expression and social responsibility theories, and 200 respondents from the Nigeria Press Council, NGOs, and the Nigeria Human Rights Commission were surveyed using a descriptive research design. The results showed that the respondents believed social media should be regulated to bring more sanity to the system. The government should regulate how social media is used to prevent its use for divisive messages, fake news, fake and divisive political propaganda, and hate speeches that could polarise the country. Opinion mining and sentiment analysis could be used to achieve this goal. The study concludes that freedom of speech should not be limited but regulated to hold individuals accountable for their speeches, mainly when they constitute libel and are maliciously designed to impede and endanger others. The law should interpret the Constitution transparently to ensure that the limitations on free speech do not impede other rights.

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