E. S. Asemah

This research specifically examines the use of the Twitter hashtag in the mobilization of Lagos youth for the #EndSARS protests of 2020. This study became necessary and was carried out due to the fact that there has been no extensive research done to the extent and influence of the Twitter hashtag in the mobilization of Lagos youth for the #EndSARS protests of 2020. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of the access to information on the #EndSARS protest through the Twitter hashtag, to ascertain the perception of Lagos youth to the information available to them on the #EndSARS protest and to investigate the extent to which Lagos youth were able to influence the Twittersphere using the Twitter hashtag. The survey design was adopted for this study with the aid of a 15-item questionnaire which was administered to 400 respondents purposively selected from the three senatorial districts in Lagos state. Data obtained were analyzed and presented with the aid of frequency tables, simple percentages and mean score. The key findings of this study showed that the Twitter hashtag was instrumental for spreading information about the #EndSARS protests, Lagos youth had a positive outlook towards this information and they were able to influence the Twittersphere to a very large extent using the Twitter hashtag. Therefore, this study concludes that the Twitter hashtag was indeed effective and influential in spreading information about the 2020 #EndSARS protests and in the mobilization of Lagos youth for the protests. To this end, it is recommended that the Twitter hashtag should be used more as a tool for the exchange of information as well as online activism. Also, this study proved that the Twitter hashtag was effective for mass physical mobilization therefore; it is recommended that it should be sustained.