- A report by Gatefield identifies Elon Musk’s X as the most harmful social media platform in Nigeria
- The study finds that 58% of women and people aged 25–34 have experienced online abuse
- While X tops the list, Facebook (29%) and WhatsApp (12%) also rank high for negative user experiences
A new report has ranked X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, as the leading source of online harm in Nigeria.
According to the report, 34% of users on the platform have experienced issues such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and harassment.
The report, titled The State of Online Harms in Nigeria, was conducted by advocacy group Gatefield with support from Luminate.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, February 14, Gatefield’s Advocacy Lead, Ms. Shirley Ewang, highlighted the growing risks associated with social media usage in the country, particularly for vulnerable groups.
A survey of over 500 Nigerians revealed that women and young adults aged 25–34 are the most affected by online abuse, with 58% reporting at least one negative experience.
Despite these alarming numbers, 31% of respondents noted that harmful content is rarely removed, raising concerns about the effectiveness of content moderation by major tech companies.
“These findings are not just numbers—they reflect real people facing daily threats of online abuse, misinformation, and harassment. Tech companies need to take stronger action, and policymakers must step in when platforms fail,” Ewang stated.
Other key findings
- 60% of Nigerians have reported experiencing online harm, but most believe no action was taken.
- X was rated the worst platform, with 34% of users reporting negative experiences, followed by Facebook (29%) and WhatsApp (12%).
- Instagram was identified as the most responsive platform, with 26% of respondents stating that it effectively handles complaints.
- There is a widespread belief that tech giants prioritise profit over user safety, with concerns about a lack of transparency in content moderation.
The report also identified misinformation as the most pressing digital threat in Nigeria, with 99% of respondents stating that fake news is a major issue.
Additionally, 91% believe big tech companies hold excessive influence over democracy, fueling fears about their role in shaping public opinion and governance.
Experts at the event warned that unchecked misinformation could have serious consequences for national security, elections, and public health.
Digital rights advocates called for stronger policies to regulate content moderation and hold tech companies accountable for user safety.
The report’s findings align with a recent study by the European Union (EU) Commission, which ranked X as the platform with the highest proportion of misinformation and disinformation posts.
Vera Jourova, the EU Commission’s Vice-President for Values and Transparency, stated that X performed poorly in a pilot test designed to assess digital platforms’ efforts to combat disinformation.
While platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Microsoft, and Meta’s apps have implemented measures to address the spread of false information, X continues to be a hotspot for disinformation actors.
However, Elon Musk has defended the platform’s approach, emphasising its commitment to “free speech” for users worldwide.
Twitter: 8 notable changes to X since Elon Musk took over
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that since Elon Musk took over X (formerly Twitter), one of the largest social media platforms, he introduced a number of notable changes.
Although the platform's essence remains the same, here are eight notable updates that Musk has facilitated: He changed the Twitter logo from bird to the new name "X”, temporary limits on tweets you can read a day, announced Linda Yaccarino as new CEO, headlines display on posts, monthly fee for verification sticker, made 'likes' private, and allowed adult content.