Use of Social Media Platforms for Public Enlightenment of NIN-SIM Card Registration in Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of social media on public awareness of NIN–SIM card registration in Nigeria. For this case study, the Technology Acceptance Model was applied. The model seeks to explain how and why individuals adopt new technologies, particularly in relation to new information communication systems, and further clarifies the primary reasons for adoption, recognition, acceptance, and application of such technologies. The study employed a scoping review. The results of the investigation indicated that the majority of social media platforms were highly effective in facilitating the integration of various groups into broad government initiatives such as the SIM card–NIN registration policy. The findings revealed that, in relation to Nigeria’s SIM card–National Identification Number (NIN) registration initiative, social media platforms such as X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and others were utilised with great precision to raise policy awareness among the populace. The paper deduced that, in the Nigerian context, social media platforms like X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, etc., are instrumental in broadcasting information about government policies. The paper recommends that the Government of Nigeria should initiate and implement a positive social media policy framework aimed at encouraging effective public participation in government policies and programmes. Furthermore, there is a need to monitor information on social media to ensure its quality, reliability, confidentiality, and privacy, especially in matters relating to national security. The credibility of sources should also be taken into account to ensure the authenticity of the information being shared.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
Akinmoladun, T. A., &Olaleye, A. A. (2019). The role of social media in enhancing and Society, 8(2), 115-130.
Andoh-Quainoo, L., & Annor-Antwi, P. (2015). The use of social media in public relations: Case of Facebook in the Ghanaian financial services industry. New Media and Mass Communication, (14), 37–48.
Atsbeha, B. W., & Wodaje, M. N. (2024). Exploring social media adoption for marketing purpose among healthcare professionals in Gondar town, central Gondar zone: A facility-based cross-sectional survey. Digital Health, 10, 1–20
Basak, B. (2024). The impact of social media on voters' behaviour in recent elections. International Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Management (IJHSSM), 4(2), 1256–1274.
Boateng, R., et al. (2022). Fraud prevention and secure cognitive SIM card registration Model. Indian Journal of Science and Technology 15(46), 2562-2569. https://doi.org/10.17485/IJST/v15i46.1658
Carlos, K. A. L., Vargas, D. S., Estigoy, M. A. S., & Hail, P. N. (2022). Effects of social media on political communication. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4157044
Coombs, W. T., & Holladay, S. J. (2018). PR strategy and application: Managing influence. Wiley-Blackwell.
Dahiru, J. M. (2019). Use of internet facilities for health communication and information sharing in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/USE-OF-INTERNET-FACILITIES-FOR HEALTH-COMMUNICATION DAHIRU/bd0984904c94196f6af142b4abe37c1e2bb2f6a7
DataReportal. (2025). Digital 2025: Nigeria. https://datareportal.com
DeFulio, A., & Devoto, A. (2019). Acceptability of social media incentives to increase physical activity. https://core.ac.uk/download/227179832.pdf
Digital Nigeria. (2023). The state of digital in Nigeria in 2023. https://dataeportal.com/reports/digital-2023-nigeria
Donovan, K. P., & Martin, A. K. (2016). The rise of African SIM registration and the emerging dynamics of regulatory change.http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/4351/3820
Dunbar, R. I., Arnaboldi, V., Conti, M., & Passarella, A. (2015). The structure of online social networks mirrors those in the offline world. Social Networks, 43(5), 39–47.
Elliott, M., Smith, L., & Thomas, D. (2020). The role of social media in civic engagement: A review of the literature. Journal of Social Media Studies, 15(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSMC.2020.2807791
Folaranmi, O. O., Ibiyeye, K. M., Odetunde, A. O.,& Kerr, D. A. (2022). The influence of social media in promoting knowledge acquisition and pathology excellence in Nigeria. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.906950
Fuchs, C. (2017). Social media: A critical introduction (2nd ed.). Sage Publications. Gerbaudo, P., & Treré, E. (2015). In search of the “we” of social media activism: Introduction to the special issue on social media and protest identities. Information, Communication & Society, 18(8), 865–871. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1043319
Gil de Zúñiga, H., Barnidge, M., & Scherman, A. (2017). Social media social capital, offline social capital, and citizenship: Exploring asymmetrical social capital effects. Political Communication, 34(1), 44–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2016.1227001
Gorman, L., & McLean, D. (2009). Media and society into the 21st century: A historical introduction (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Graham, M., & Dutton, W. H. (2014). Society and the internet: How networks of information and communication are changing our lives. Oxford University Press.
Graham, M., & Dutton, W. H. (2017). Internet studies: A critical new field in social science. Bill Dutton’s Blog. https://billdutton.me/category/internet-studies/
GSMA. (2016). Mandatory registration of prepaid SIM cards: Addressing challenges through best practice. https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp
content/uploads/2013/11/GSMA_White-Paper_Mandatory-Registration-of-Prepaid-SIM Users_32pgWEBv3.pdf
Ifeanyi, P. (2020). Linking SIM card-NIN for national security: Implications and opportunities for Nigeria. Journal of National Security Studies, 18(2), 103–115.
Ikpi, N. E., Undelikwo, V. A., & Ubi, L. O. (2022). Social media use for patient care: An evaluation of health practitioners in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 11(4), 1249–1256.
Jentzsch, N. (2018). Implications of mandatory registration for mobile users in Africa. Telecommunications Policy, 36(8), 608–620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2012.04.002
Laranjo, L., Arguel, A., Neves, A. L., Gallagher, A. M., Kaplan, R., Mortimer, N., Mendes, G. A., & Lau, A. Y. (2015). The influence of social networking sites on health behaviour change: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 22(1), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2014-002841
Lucas, M. G. (2024). Use of social media to create awareness on reproductive health by Jos-based healthcare practitioners (Undergraduate project, Plateau State University, Bokkos). Mayfield, A. (2008). What is social media? iCrossing.http://icrossing.co.uk.fileadmin/uploads/ebooks/hat_is_social_media_icrossingebook. df
McCorkindale, T., & DiStaso, M. W. (2014). The state of social media research: Where are we now, where we were and what it means for public relations. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259563914
Myrick, J. G. (2015). The role of emotions in preventive health communication. Health Communication, 30(2), 174–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2013.861303
Nigerian Communications Commission. (2021). SIM card registration guidelines. NCC Nigeria. https://www.ncc.gov.ng
Olorede, J., & Oyewole, A. (2013). Level of internet compliance and usage in the newsrooms of broadcast media in Nigeria. Journal of New Media and Mass Communications, 9, 1–10.
Omokanye, S. A., Adepoju, I. K., Adediran, F., & Adeniregun, A. K. (2023). Attitude, utilisation status and perceived effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on healthcare delivery in Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(12), 4581–4590.
Oriogu, C. D., Subair, R. E., & Oriogu-Ogbuiyi, D. C. (2017). Use of internet health information resources and information seeking behaviour among health professionals in Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 1511. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1511
Orunsola, A. A., Sodiya, A. S., Famuyiwa, K. S., & Shittu, F. (2022). A NIN-based model for social media security in Nigeria. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368357896
Pew Research Center. (2019). Social media use continues to rise in developing countries but plateaus across developed ones. https://www.pewresearch.org
Rathore, D. (2016). What is Web 2.0? https://www.znetlive.com/blog/web-2-0/