Assessing Threats Caused by Social Media on National Security:

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.