IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

Domestic violence is widespread and shows no sign of lessening in Nigeria including men and women have been victims of physical or sexual violence committed by previous husbands/spouse. Common violence against men, women and children in Nigeria are rape, acid attack, molestation, wife barttery and corporal punishment. Media can play a lead role in the society's fight against domestic violence. As the media is the oil that lubricates the engine of the society and as well as the eyes and ears of the public they could help a great deal in mitigating violence. Based on this study, the study examines the impact of social media campaign on domestic violence in Nigeria. The objectives of the study includes to study the different types of mass media available in campaigning against domestic violence in the Nigeria, identifying how digital media platforms such as twitter, Facebook, instagram, snapchat, whatsapp, youtube etc could serve as the voice of children, women/girls, found out the means to enhance how digital media platforms can enhance and social and behavioural change intervention to prevent and respond to violence. The research design adopted is a descriptive research design. The method of data collection was primary and secondary data; the primary data involves sourcing through questionnaire instrument while that of the secondary data involves sourcing through textual materials and the internet. The question guide titled “Role of mass media in campaigning against domestic violence questionnaire was used to gather the required data. The study discovered that media could also provide a platform for key influencers (celebrities, sports- people, politicians, women group etc) to publicly challenge violence. Media has been a useful way to expose abuse wherever it happens, and for women/men to across the world to come and disclose information is a vital tool in this fight. With right information, the public become substantially more willing to report incidents of violence to authorities and agents of the state.