The Essentiality and Locus of Social Media Policy in Nigeria

Abstract

This is a critical essay that examines the essentially and locus of social media policy in Nigerian communication policy at the national and institutional levels. It theoretically examines the communication and media environments in Nigeria and how the complexity and peculiarity of the environment triggers the need for separate social media policy that will deal with how citizens in respective of their social, political and economic status should understand and use social media. The proposition is made within the argument of common interest theory, which provides a balanced submission between utilitarian and unitary approaches to social policies that discussed common interest as factor for the essentiality of policies such social media policy. The paper, after examining issues involved in the formulation, adoption and implementation, submitted that social media policy in Nigeria, should be standalone from broader communication policy because of its separate, popularity, acceptability and usability much more than the conventional media such as radio and television.

Keywords: Social Media, Policy, Social Media Policy, Media Policy, Nigeria.