The Influence of Social Media on Youth Voting Behaviour in Ilorin West Local Government Area during the 2023 Kwara State Gubernatorial Election

Abstract

This study examines the influence of social media on youth voting behaviour in Ilorin West Local Government Area during the 2023 Kwara State gubernatorial election. In recent years, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), WhatsApp, and Instagram have become powerful political communication tools that shape electoral participation, political awareness, and decision-making among young voters. The 2023 gubernatorial election in Kwara State witnessed increased online political engagement, particularly among youths who constitute a significant proportion of the electorate in Ilorin West. The study is anchored on the Uses and Gratification Theory, which explains how individuals actively seek media content to satisfy political, informational, and social needs. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were gathered through structured questionnaires administered to eligible young voters in Ilorin West. Findings reveal that social media significantly influenced youths’ political awareness, candidate preference, and voter mobilization. However, issues such as misinformation, political propaganda, and digital inequality also affected voting decisions negatively. The study concludes that social media played a dual role in both enhancing democratic participation and spreading misinformation during the election period. It recommends media literacy education, stricter regulation of political content online, and increased civic engagement strategies by electoral bodies and political stakeholders to improve informed voting behaviour among youths