Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Social modia are connection and mans communication tools characterised by global diffv,ifin
Social media platforms have far. reaching social and security implications everywhere in the
world, threatening the government, its national security agencies and the community at iarr,
it is important some studies he done about how social media can harness peace and
.aer-urity
and, in equal measure, monitor them in the event it threatens national security. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of social media on national security in
Tanzania, taking the Dar es Salaam region as a case study. The study adopted a survey
research method. The target population was all people in the selected area of Kinondoni
District in Dar es Salaam using social media with the guiding objectives to identify the types of
social media content in the context of Tanzania's security, to evaluate the kinds of social
media security threats to the national security and to examine the ways for mitigating social
media security threats to the national security. The study adopted a descriptive research design in order to describe, observe, and document
the occurring phenomenon of the study. It also included a sample size of 120 from 4 selected
streets and officials from members of TCRA officers, with the thematic and content analysis of
datausing a qualitative approach. The empirical results showed that 82% of the respondents perceived that social media
influences national security creation and dissemination of largely inflammatory messages
operating through misinformation and disinformation, which contribute to crimes among
members of the Tanzania society. Following the findings and conclusion made, it was
recommended that the regulatory authority, specifically the TCRA, be capacitated with
personnel of modern social media and the security administrator be given modern skills and
facilities to prevent security threats as well as cooperate with the organisations and community
at large. In conclusion, generalising these findings for all regions may require further
investigation.
