The Influence of Social Media on Political Participation Among Youth in Lagos

Social media platforms have dramatically transformed the political communication landscape in Nigeria, creating new avenues for youth civic engagement and political mobilization outside traditional party structures. This study examines the influence of social media on political participation among youth aged 18 to 35 in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, with structured questionnaires administered to 420 respondents selected through stratified random sampling across three senatorial districts. The Uses and Gratifications Theory was applied to understand how youth engage with political content on social media. Results indicate that 83% of respondents used social media platforms for political information consumption, with Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp being the most frequently cited. Active political posting or commentary was reported by 61% of respondents, while 29% had participated in online petition campaigns. Social media exposure was positively correlated with offline political participation including protest attendance and voter registration, contradicting slacktivism arguments. However, 47% reported encountering misinformation that influenced their political views, raising concerns about information quality. Urban youth with higher education levels demonstrated significantly higher rates of both online and offline political participation. Gender differences in participation were minimal online but remained significant for offline political activities. Recommendations include digital literacy programs to enhance critical media consumption skills, and civil society investment in evidence-based political content production targeting youth audiences in Lagos. Keywords: social media, political participation, youth, Lagos, civic engagement.