2023 Social Media as a Tool to Promote Young Females‘ Political Participation
Social media has proven to be vital in today’s politics because of the role it plays in enhancing communication in today’s world most especially in Nigeria.
As of January 2022, Nigeria had 32.9 million active social media users. WhatsApp is the most popular platform in the country, followed by Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram and then Twitter.
However, the estimated number of internet users in the country was more than 108 million as of 2022.
Also looking at more statistics, Internet user penetration in Nigeria saw a slight increase between the years 2018 and 2022, going from around 26 percent to over 38 percent.
Whether we like it or not, social media and politics have become inseparable because so much political discourse takes place on social media.
Today more Young Women have taken to social media to deliberate on politics and talk about issues of governance as it affects their overall wellbeing.
The role social media played in getting youths most especially young women to be part of the just concluded voter’s registration is evident with a total of 31 million persons using the voter online registration process with about 18 million youths using the portal.
It was clearly evident with the figure of completed registration of 12,298,944 with more females at 6,224,866
Now some of these figures can be attributed to the continuous voter education which is being promoted on various platforms most especially on social media like the action for better female inclusion and participation in the electoral process in Nigeria (ABIPIN) project by the Center For Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) and Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD). #HerVoteHerVoice #RaisingHerVote
Social media can therefore be used to educate female voters and address issues of doubt (To prevent voter apathy)
Young Females should be able to use social media as a tool to discuss topical issues that need to be addressed in Nigeria.
Social media can be used to also communicate or to give the female voter an impression of the various candidates
Social media should also be a tool that empowers Young female voters as they could also express their views which may be ignored but can’t be denied.
Young Females should also take advantage of social media to promote positive campaigns that will encourage participation just like we saw campaigns that promoted voter registration, so what next after registration but to put that voter card to use.
Young Females who are educated and use social media effectively should also take the responsibility to educate those who are not privileged or do not have access to social media tools and get them informed.
Be part of the campaign for promoting female inclusion and participation in the electoral process in Nigeria today with the tag #HerVoteHerVoice #RaisingHerVote
