TECHNOLOGY CONVERGENCE, MEDIA CONVERGENCE, YOUTH USAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONFLICT TRIGGER: A STUDY OF ESCALATION OF THE 2017/2018 MAMBILLA PLATEAU CONFLICT IN NORTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Social media as a product of technological convergence can be used positively or negatively by people, including youths. Positively, social media helps in opening the participation of everyone in sharing information without much hindrances. Equally, using social media negatively can plunge the society into chaos. This paper looks at youth usage of social media during the 2017/2018 Mambilla Plateau conflict in North East Nigeria, using FGD and In-depth Interview with Technological Determinant Theory and Peace Journalism Conflict Transformation Theory as theoretical framework. The paper revealed that youths wrongly used Facebook to fuel the escalation of the 2017/2018 herders/farmers conflict on the Mambilla Plateau through dissemination of fake news and hate speech. This paper recommends that though youths can be allowed unhindered access to the use of social media, such access should be checked during crisis to avoid misuse that can lead to escalation of such crisis.

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