The Impact of Twitter Ban on Information Sharing Among Students at Kwara State University

Abstract

Abstract The study examined the impact of Nigeria’s Twitter ban (June 2021 - January 2022) on information sharing among students at Kwara State University (KWASU). The ban, imposed following the deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet for violating platform rules, raised concerns about freedom of expression and access to information. Using a quantitative survey method, data were collected from 150 undergraduate students through a structured questionnaire. The study’s objectives were to determine how the Twitter suspension affected students’ information-sharing capabilities and to assess students’ perceptions of the ban. Findings revealed that 58.6% of the respondents reported significant disruption to their information-sharing activities, with 60% agreeing that the ban adversely affected opinion sharing and freedom of expression. The study also found that students used Twitter primarily for information seeking (45%), social engagement (28%), and academic updates (18%). Results indicated that while 26.7% of the students disagreed that the ban affected information sharing, the majority acknowledged its negative impact on their digital communication and academic discourse. The study highlights the critical role of social media platforms in facilitating student information exchange and recommended that regulatory authorities consider the educational implications of platform restrictions. This research contributes to understanding the intersection between social media governance, freedom of expression, and educational communication in developing nations.