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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">BJCR</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title xml:lang="en">British Journal of Contemporary Research</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title xml:lang="en">BJCR</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn>2979-8582</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Bexford Publishing Ltd</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc><uri>https://bexfordpublishing.co.uk</uri></publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">BEX_AUG_26_041</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.67693/BJCR-P7PWSNZ7</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group xml:lang="en" subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Original Research Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Implications of Social Media Censorship on Freedom of Expression: A Critical Analysis of the 2021 Twitter (X) Ban in Nigeria</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group content-type="author">
      <contrib corresp="yes">
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Gabriel Sunday Afolayan</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>sungoldafolayan@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Kemi Abodunrin, PhD</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>abodunrin.kemi@edouniversity.edu.ng</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Kemi Abodunrin, PhD Dept of Mass Communication, Faculty of Arts &amp; Communication, Edo State University, Iyamho, Edo State</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Stephen Oyedotun Ogunmola</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>oyedotunogunmola@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="epub">
        <day>10</day>
        <month>09</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>1</volume>
      <issue>4</issue>
      
      
      <pub-history>
        <event event-type="received">
          <event-desc>Received: <date date-type="received">
            <day>09</day>
            <month>08</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
        
        <event event-type="accepted">
          <event-desc>Accepted: <date date-type="accepted">
            <day>18</day>
            <month>08</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
      </pub-history>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriel Sunday Afolayan</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
        <license xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract><p>The June 2021 Twitter ban in Nigeria, imposed after the platform deleted the late President Muhamadu Buhari&#039;s tweet, sparked intense debates on national security, freedom of expression, and digital governance among the citizens, especially media scholars in and outside Nigeria. This study examined the ban&#039;s implications on citizens, businesses, and government-citizen relations through thematic analysis of selected Nigerian government’s policy documents relating to social media regulations. Using digital authoritarianism and networked public sphere theories, the study’s findings revealed widespread criticism of the ban, significant economic impacts on businesses relying on Twitter, and strained government-citizen relations, among others. Users highlighted concerns about digital rights, privacy, and the need for transparent regulation. The study argued that the ban was a disproportionate response to perceived threats and recommended respect for digital freedom and citizen’s right to free expression, establishing a multi-stakeholder regulatory framework, and prioritizing digital rights and governance, and that Nigeria can foster a more inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem by balancing national security concerns with digital freedoms. 
Keywords: Digital rights, Freedom of expression, National security, Social media regulation, Twitter ban.</p></abstract>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
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