The Influence of Social Media on Citizen Journalism and Its Impact on Mainstream News Credibility in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of social media on citizen journalism and the credibility of mainstream news outlets in Nigeria. It explores how social media affects the news consumption habits of Nigerian youth, the influence of citizen journalism on news credibility, and the relationship between social media engagement and perceived credibility. The study also identifies the most trusted and distrusted social media platforms for news. Data was collected through an online survey of 340 Nigerian social media users, focusing on social media use for news, trust in citizen journalism versus traditional media, and news source credibility. The findings reveal a significant shift toward social media in shaping youth news preferences, with citizen journalism seen as more reliable, affecting the credibility of mainstream media. The study recommends enhancing media literacy initiatives among Nigerian youth to improve critical thinking and fact-checking skills. It contributes to the discourse on the evolving media landscape in Nigeria, highlighting the role of social media and citizen journalism in shaping public perception of news credibility.

Keywords: social media, citizen journalism, news credibility, mainstream media, Nigeria, youth, Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation