A new report has fingered X as Nigeria’s top platform for online harm, with 34 percent of users facing cyberbullying, misinformation, harassment and bad behaviour
The State of Online Harms in Nigeria report, conducted by Gatefield with support from Luminate, highlights the growing risks associated with social media use in the country. Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, Ms Shirley Ewang, shared the findings with journalists on Friday in Abuja.
The study, which surveyed over 500 Nigerians, found that women and young people aged 25–34 were disproportionately affected, with 58 percent experiencing some form of online abuse.
Despite widespread reports of harmful content, 31 percent of Nigerians stated that such content is never removed, raising concerns about the effectiveness of content moderation by major tech companies.
“These findings are not just statistics; they represent real people facing online abuse, misinformation, and harassment every day,” Ewang said. “Tech platforms must do more to protect users, and policymakers need to step in where platforms fail.”
The report revealed that while 60 percent of Nigerians have reported online harm, most believe no action was taken.
X was ranked as the worst offender, followed by Facebook at 29 percent and WhatsApp at 12 percent. Meanwhile, Instagram emerged as the most responsive platform, with 26 percent of respondents stating it effectively addresses complaints.
Beyond online abuse, misinformation was flagged as the biggest digital threat in Nigeria, with 99 percent of respondents identifying fake news as a major concern.
Additionally, 91 percent of Nigerians believe that big tech has too much power over democracy, raising fears about the role of digital platforms in shaping public opinion and governance.
Experts at the event warned that unchecked misinformation and bad behaviour could have devastating consequences for national security, elections, and public health.
Digital rights advocates stressed the need for stronger policies to regulate content moderation and ensure that tech companies are held accountable.
As Nigeria continues to navigate the digital age, the report calls for urgent action from social media companies, civil society organisations, and policymakers to protect citizens from online harm and ensure a safer digital space.
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