The Influence of Social Media On National Security in Tanzania

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.