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DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2019-1.ch007
Chapter 7
157
Navigating the Nexus
between Social Media,
Political Scandal, and
Good Governance
in Nigeria:
Its Ethical Implications
ABSTRACT
The advent of the social media revolution in contemporary time has had a phenomenal
impact in almost every area of human endeavor in many societies. However, social
media has some credibility burden that could hinder its efective use and also produce
unintended consequences such as political propaganda, and other unwholesome
activities as it afects politics and governance. This study sought to assess the nexus
between social media, political scandal and good governance in Nigeria. It also
assessed the success or otherwise of the institutional counter-measures in checkmat-
ing the excesses of social media. Situated within the framework of reputation repair
and social responsibility theories, the paper acknowledges that the conventional
mass media has ties with the political and economic forces in the society, thus, are
somewhat incapacitated in rising to the societal challenges. Consequently, the paper
presents the social media as a veritable alternative, arguing that social media tools
have what it takes to serve as a platform for citizen participation in governance.
Essien D. Essien
University of Uyo, Nigeria