Effect of Fake News on Youths Perception of Nigeria's Unity: A Study of Higher National Diploma (HND) Students of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Nigeria

Abstract

Fake news as well as misinformation has become an unwanted feature of social networks collectively referred to as the social media, Evidently, on daily basis, social media audience comes across a variety of fake news and misinformation. The fear of its disruptive and dysfunctional effects on a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, thus, prompted this study. Consequently, with the Higher National Diploma (HND) students of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, as its population, the study uses survey research method and questionnaire as an instrument respectively. The sample size of 400 respondents determined by the Taro Yamanes formula was proportionally distributed using the simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data collected. Findings revealed that the prevalence of fake news as well as exposure of the youths to it was high. The study, therefore, recommends, among others, that government should begin massive public enlightenment campaigns via various mass media outlets and social media to sensitize Nigerians on the dangers fake news/misinformation poses to the country's unity and wellbeing as a whole. The campaign should be specifically targeted at the youths who form majority of users and audience of the social media.