Social media has significantly altered Nigeria's civic landscape, facilitating novel methods of digital activism and the organisation of protests. From 2020 to 2025, online movements transformed the methods by which citizens articulate dissent and organise for accountability. Despite its role in mobilizing civic action, social media in Nigeria remains limited as a tool for lasting political change due to repression, misinformation, and fragmented activism. Guided by the Networked Public Sphere Theory, this research utilised a quantitative approach through online surveys distributed via Google Forms to a sample of 60 respondents. The respondents comprised youth activists, journalists, and civil society representatives. The data were analysed using thematic and descriptive methods in Excel. The results show that social media sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter (X) act as catalysts for organising protests and fostering civic participation. However, the lasting effects and policy impact of digital activism are hampered by disinformation, surveillance, and a lack of organised leadership. As a result, social media remains limited by structural flaws even while it increases democratic participation and gives voice to under-represented groups. For Nigeria to become more democratic, the study recommends strengthening fact-checking systems, protecting digital rights, and combining online activism with real civic projects is essential.

Social media, digital activism, civil unrest

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