Effect of Social Media News Consumption on Information Verification Behaviour Among Students of Auchi Polytechnic
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined the effect of social media news consumption on information verification behaviour among students of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Nigeria. The study was guided by six research questions. It adopted the survey research design and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 392 respondents selected from a population of 19,560 registered students of Auchi Polytechnic for the 2025/2026 academic session. Data were analysed using frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings revealed that a majority of students engage in high levels of social media news consumption, with WhatsApp and Facebook being the most frequently used platforms for news access. However, the study found that information verification behaviour among students is generally moderate to low, with many respondents relying on informal verification methods such as peer consultation and cross-checking with general websites rather than structured fact-checking tools. The study further established that there is no strong linear relationship between social media news consumption and verification behaviour, as increased exposure does not automatically lead to improved verification practices. It was also found that the key factors influencing verification behaviour include media literacy, trust in information sources, peer influence and time pressure. The study concludes that while social media dominates news consumption among students, verification practices remain weak, highlighting the need for improved media literacy interventions.
Institution: Auchi Polytechnic
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204947484