Towards a Sustainable National Security: Examining the Effect of Regulations Against Fake News and Hate Speech in Nigerian Media

Abstract

Sequel to the high prevalence of ventilating fake news, misinformation, 
and hate speech in the media, most especially by social media users; and 
taking into cognisance the resultant insecurity, instability, and disunity 
that such an act portends, many countries including Nigeria, have been 
swiftly responding, by formulating different policies to "regulate" the use 
of social media platforms and its contents, to curtail the growing menace. 
This study which is hinged on agenda setting theory, therefore, 
investigated whether or not all these regulations have been of any effect to 
curb or completely eradicate the ugly trend in the Nigerian society and media space. The study utilised library research to arrive at secondary 
data and thematically discussed the topic by dissecting existing and 
relevant scholarly literature and articles that are useful for understanding 
the issues surrounding the investigation. Findings revealed that these 
regulations in Nigeria are not only repressive but ineffective; and that 
social media users could hardly be encumbered by government 
regulations, at least for now, largely because of the nature of the internet 
which is not limited by geographical boundaries. The study, therefore, 
recommended among others, that both the government and media owners 
should organise, from time to time, media literacy campaigns that will 
instill a sense of responsible use of the media space in the consciousness 
of social media users.