Social Media Hate Speech Frames in Nigeria's 2019 Presidential Election Campaigns

Abstract

Social media have been a propelling channel utilized to bring about socio-economic and political transformations in the modern society. This, Nigerian politicians and their teeming followers know quite well, hence, the heavy use of the platforms to express their views and champion their manifestoes at election periods. With this development, there are indications that the wrong use of the social media pose serious threats to peaceful coexistence through the proliferation of hate comments. This paper examines hate speech frames in the 2019 presidential election campaigns. Survey methodology was implored with the aid of questionnaire to sample the view of members of the public. Findings reveal that the election campaigns were filled with hate speeches which was so evident in the media reports and the ever free social media sites. The paper recommends that stakeholders must be alive to their responsibilities during election campaigns and desist from whipping up hate speeches during the campaigns. The ongoing hate speech bill in Nigeria should also be reconsidered in view of its enormous benefits to achieving a peaceful society while the controversial aspects of the bill should be expunged.