Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Communication and Media Studies

Includes bibliography (sheets 63-74)

ABSTRACT
Freedom of expression is under serious attack such as restriction to freedom of speech with many bans being imposed on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs. The main aim of this study is to evaluate how social media as a platform helps to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of expression even in the presence of so many regulations by the Nigerian government by looking at activities on major blogs. The study will also look at the direct and indirect practices being implemented by the Nigerian government to limit the activities of bloggers in their call to make information available to the public. Lastly, the study will examine if bloggers in Nigeria are allowed to freely criticize the Nigerian government without facing some repercussions. This study uses of a quantitative research approach by distributing questionnaires to the members of the Nigerian Bloggers Forum. This therefore means the study applied a primary process of data collection through the means of questionnaire distributed to bloggers in blogosphere via google form. The questionnaires examined the view of bloggers in Nigeria regarding freedom of expression and self-censorship and whether they freely express their views on social media platforms. Bloggers in Nigeria also have the perception that the government of Nigeria directly or indirectly censors the bloggers based on their different characteristics such as the content of their discussion as well as the type of their main social media platform. The study reveals that bloggers in Nigeria are force to self-censor their expression on social media platform thereby affecting their freedom to express their opinion. The study also reveals that bloggers’ characteristics and demographic variables have impact on the degree of freedom of expression.