MASS MEDIA AND RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BENIN STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study examined mass media and right of freedom of expression among University of Benin students: a case study of the 2021 Twitter ban. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, three research questions were raised. The sample for this study consists of one hundred (100) students of the University of Benin. The participants were selected using simple random sampling method and data was collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Simple percentages and frequency count were used to analyze collected data. Findings from the study revealed that; the ban of Twitter also reduced the credibility rating of the government as true and even development cannot be obtainable in a nation that seeks to limit’s citizen’s desire to express themselves. It was also discovered that as a country, Nigeria benefits from the huge presence of social media outlets across the country. On the issue of the ban on twitter, it was observed that the ban was not as a result of abuse of the platform or misinformation and half truth being passed around as it was more of an ulterior motive held by the government.