Social Media And The Colonization Of The Lifeworld
Suleiman M. Barnabas, Shajobi-Ibinkule D. Gloria
Keywords: Social media, lifeworld, social life, colonization, victim
Abstract
This paper examines the role of the social media in the social life of individuals. Through a systematic review of secondary sources, this study provides a narrative on how the social media has colonized the lifeworld of members of the society to the extent that information and news from or on the platform are consumed without being subjected to critical thinking. The obsession with the social media through its numerous platforms such as facebook, whatsapp, twitter (X), YouTube, instagram and snapchat has attracted the presence of politicians, entrepreneurs, marketers and every class of people to it, as everyone remains glued to their social networks for entertainment and information. The paper shows that the controlling influences of the social media over the lives of people have made it a convenient platform for the dissemination of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation. The consequence is that social life, expressed in the lived experiences of individuals, has become the victim of the social media.
Author Biography
Suleiman M. Barnabas
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria
Shajobi-Ibinkule, D. Gloria
Department of Private and Property Law & Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria