SOCIAL MEDIA MISINFORMATION AND CONFLICT NARRATIVES IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN SHAPING COMMUNAL CONFLICTS IN PLATEAU STATE

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/08/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 3 (2026)

Article No.

049

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-MGWNQSST

Received

27 Jul 2026

Views

24

Downloads

13

Abstract

Social media has significantly transformed how conflicts are discussed, interpreted, and sustained globally, including in Nigeria. In conflict settings, digital platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube are widely used to circulate narratives of violence, blame, and victimhood, many of which are inaccurate or deliberately misleading. The rapid spread of such content, combined with its emotional appeal, poses serious risks in societies where intergroup trust is fragile. In Plateau State, long-standing narratives of threat, indigeneity, and land dispossession intersect with digital communication to intensify communal tensions and polarisation. This study examines how social media misinformation and conflict narratives circulating on digital platforms influence the nature, spread, and intensity of communal conflicts in Plateau State, Nigeria. Anchored on framing theory, social identity theory, and diffusion of innovations theory, the study finds that conflict-related misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, shapes perceptions of social groups, and escalates tensions, thereby increasing the likelihood of communal violence. However, the findings also suggest that digital platforms can support peace building when leveraged through narrative-based and media-literate interventions. The study concludes that social media narratives are not passive reflections of conflict but active forces shaping identities and responses to violence. It therefore recommends strengthened media and digital literacy campaigns and community-based peace messaging initiatives to counter misinformation and promote peaceful coexistence.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.