Social media and propagation of rumour among University of Ilorin undergraduates

Abstract

The widespread use of social media has enhanced the generation, transmission and amplification of rumour of all kinds. Unfortunately, because the veracity of messages is often difficult to determine in a rumour situation, social media intensify the rapid diffusion of rumors. Some studies have examined why individuals transmit rumours on social media. However, nothing significant seems to have been done in investigating undergraduates’ willingness to generate and transmit rumour on the social media. To address this gap, the researchers undertake a study to enquire the readiness of University of Ilorin undergraduates to peddle rumour using survey. Population of the study is 1,627 undergraduates that constitute five departments in the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences. Based on Krejcie and Morgan’s published table, the study arrives at a sample of 310 students. Finding show that few undergraduates are indisposed to generate and transmit rumour. However, under given conditions, most of the undergraduates are enthusiastic to retransmit rumour particularly on WhatsApp. The study concludes that social media has extended the frontiers of rumour mongering. While the study recommends media literacy among undergraduates as the messages they amplify may be false, they should maximally use other social media platforms.