STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SHAPING POLITICAL OPINIONS ON CAMPUS

This study investigates the perception of undergraduate students at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) regarding the influence of social media in shaping political opinions on campus. With the rapid expansion of digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook, university students are increasingly exposed to political content that influences their awareness, opinions, and levels of engagement. Grounded in the Agenda-Setting Theory and Uses and Gratification Theory, the research examines the types of political content encountered, trust in such content, levels of influence, and the extent to which social media fosters political participation. A structured online questionnaire was administered to 346 students, selected using judgmental sampling to focus on active social media users. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages in Microsoft Excel. The findings reveal that most students are regularly exposed to political content, especially satire, campaign updates, and activism. A significant majority reported that their political opinions had been shaped by social media, although many expressed skepticism about the credibility of online content. Verified news pages were the most trusted sources, while influencers and political figures were viewed with caution. The study also found that while students are active in sharing political content online, real-life political action remains limited, highlighting a gap between digital engagement and practical participation—a phenomenon often referred to as “slacktivism.” Interpretation of political content varied across faculties, indicating the influence of academic background on political perception. Despite challenges such as misinformation and online conflict, students acknowledged that social media promotes political awareness. The study concludes that while social media serves as a powerful tool for political education and discourse among students, its potential is constrained by trust issues and limited offline engagement. Recommendations include the promotion of digital political literacy, cross-faculty dialogue, and mechanisms.