Perception of ESUT Students on the Credibility of Citizen Journalism on Instagram and Twitter

The emergence of citizen journalism on social media platforms has disrupted traditional gatekeeping models and introduced new complexities around information credibility, particularly among young educated audiences who increasingly rely on user-generated content for news and current affairs. This study assessed ESUT students' perceptions of the credibility of citizen journalism on Instagram and Twitter. The study was anchored on the Credibility Theory, which identifies expertise, trustworthiness, and dynamism as the primary dimensions through which audiences evaluate the reliability of information sources. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting a population of 7,200 undergraduate students at ESUT across all faculties. A sample of 364 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling, and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit data on citizen journalism exposure, credibility perceptions, and platform trust. Findings indicated that a majority of respondents frequently encountered citizen journalism content but expressed significant reservations about its reliability, accuracy, and editorial accountability. Twitter was perceived as marginally more credible than Instagram for news purposes, attributed to its text-heavy format and the visibility of verified accounts. Prior experiences with misinformation significantly lowered respondents' general trust in user-generated news content. The study concluded that ESUT students hold a sceptical but engaged relationship with citizen journalism, consuming it alongside rather than as a replacement for traditional news sources. It was recommended that institutions integrate source evaluation skills into general studies curricula and that platform operators develop clearer credibility signals for citizen journalism content.
Keywords: citizen journalism, credibility, Instagram, Twitter, ESUT students