Public Knowledge and Attitude Towards News Misinformation on Social Media Platforms in Nigeria: Social media users’ knowledge and response to misinformation

DOI: 10.46988/IJMMC.08.02.2026.02

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the digital landscape has fundamentally reshaped how individuals
consume information, positioning social media as a primary news source. However, this
shift has simultaneously fostered an environment highly conducive to the unchecked spread
of online news misinformation, commonly termed "fake news." This study investigates
public knowledge of, exposure to, and behavioral attitudes toward news misinformation on
social media platforms in Nigeria. Utilizing a survey research design, an online
questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 425 university students
and media practitioners across Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States, yielding 388 valid responses.
The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including simple percentages
and mean scores.
The findings reveal an overwhelmingly high awareness of misinformation, with 97.2% of
respondents confirming direct exposure to false content. Online news blogs and gossip
forums were identified as the most prevalent hubs for spreading information disorders,
while entertainment/celebrity news and political topics ranked as the most common subject
areas contaminated by falsehoods. In terms of audience response, the majority of
participants (55.4%) actively attempted to verify suspect stories through credible channels.
However, a significant knowledge gap persists, with a notable portion of the sample failing
to understand what constitutes misinformation or actively ignoring the issue. The study
concludes that while general awareness is high, technical and critical verification skills
remain limited. It recommends the implementation of fair regulatory policies, robust public
sensitization campaigns, and regular social media literacy training to build resilience
against digital information pollution in Nigeria.