Abstract:
The study assessed threats caused by social media on national security. The study was guided
by the following specific objectives: - to find out the extent to which social media threats affect
national security, to establish the role of security agencies in curbing threats posed by social
media and to identify challenges faced by security agencies in curbing threats posed by social
media. The study employed mixed research approach where survey research design was
employed. The sample size was 95 respondents where thematic and SPSS were used as data
analysis technique. findings illustrate that respondents perceive these threats as significant and
security risks, although there is some variability in their responses, reflecting the multifaceted
nature of social media's impact on security. The challenges range from low community
awareness and technological limitations to insufficient regulatory frameworks and inadequate
resources. Notably, the overwhelming volume of data generated on social media and the global
nature of these threats present formidable obstacles. The study recommends that, there is a
need to develop and implement comprehensive public awareness campaigns to educate
citizens about the risks associated with social media threats. Promote media literacy and critical
thinking skills to empower individuals to discern credible information from disinformation and
fake news. The study further recommends that, there is a need to collaborate with relevant
stakeholders to establish and enforce robust regulatory frameworks that govern social media
platforms. These regulations should address issues such as data privacy, content moderation,
and the prevention of the spread of extremist content.
