Media and Information Literacy, Misinformation, and Civic Engagement in Nigeria’s Digital Public Sphere

Ikokwu Onwuchekwa

Abstract

The increasing development of digital communication technologies has altered the process of how people obtain information, engage in public conversation, and en­gage in civic action. In Nigeria where social media networks have turned into ma­jor sources of news and political information, misinformation is increasingly becoming a threat to the ability of people to engage in civic practices in an informed manner. Although digital media is at the core of the lives of the population, there is a paucity of studies that explore the impact of media and information literacy (MIL) on the ca­pacity of citizens to recognize misinformation and engage in the digital public in a re­sponsible manner. This paper examines how MIL and misinformation susceptibility are related to civic engagement among the Nigerian users of digital media. The study used a mixed-methods design, which incorporated a quantitative survey (n=847) users of dig­ital media (Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna) and qualitative semi-structured interviews (n= 45) to evaluate information-evaluation practices, misinformation exposure patterns, and civic participation levels. Results demonstrate a considerable disjuncture between digital access and critical literacy skills: most users use social trust instead of source verification, which exposes them to misinformation. More educated respondents had better verification practices and were more actively engaged in civic life. The research concludes that MIL needs to be empowered by education policy, community initiatives and media alliances with the aim of fostering an informed and active digital citizenry.

Keywords: media and information literacy, digital public sphere, misinformation, digital literacy, civic engagement, social media.