SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS: IN BENUE STATE OF NIGERIA

This study, “Social Media and Youth Participation in Politics in Benue State of Nigeria”, assessed the participation of youth in politics through the social media in Benue State of Nigeria. The survey research method was employed and questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Findings revealed that youth in Benue State use social media platforms on daily basis. Facebook is the most popular social media platform among the surveyed population. The use of social media has strongly enhanced political engagements among young people in Benue State of Nigeria. Furthermore, findings revealed the challenges faced by youth in utilizing social media for political participation in Benue State of Nigeria, to include cyber bullying and insults, as well as impoliteness. Findings also disclosed that social media can be used to educate youth about political issues in Benue State of Nigeria by encouraging respectful debates and discussions among users on political topics, providing accurate and unbiased information.