SOCIAL MEDIA HATE SPEECH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACEBUILDING AMONG CONFLICTING COMMUNITIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study analyzed the social media hate speech and peace building implications of conflicting communities in the North-Central Nigeria with emphasis on Kwara, Niger and Kogi States. The research design was qualitative descriptive with the data collection method used being a semi-structured interview with community leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, media practitioners, civil society representatives and security personnel. The results showed that social media plays a very significant role in the propagation of hate speech through misinformation, ethnic stereotyping of individuals or groups, emotional manipulation and the quick spread of provocation. The study also revealed that online hate speech is having a negative impact on the peace-building process, which is leading to distrust, fear, communal violence, polarization of society, and reconciliation process breakdown among conflicted communities. The study found that Hate Speech (HSP) on social media carries a significant risk on sustainable peace-building in North-Central Nigeria. It thus called for the education of digital literacy, tightened regulation of online content and interfaith dialogue and peace campaigns as measures to promote responsible use of social media and peaceful coexistence.