Instant hashtagging#: The online “judge and jury”

The social media since its introduction has played countless roles in the society including free expression, vehicles for news and information, social interaction, idea sharing, etc. The major role it plays in some cases is that of the online jury and the judge. This research examines if this role is a means of exerting citizen’s civic rights and duties, as well as playing as online judge or jury, through simple actions such as publishing, commenting and analysis on the social media to shape public opinion and influence cases of injustice. The study is quantitative as survey method was adopted with the use of questionnaire. Data was gathered through random sampling method and analysis and interpretation was done using simple frequencies and percentage. Findings show that majority of the respondents quickly and repeatedly use hashtags due to empathy for victims of the cases they represent while also concluding that social media through the use of hashtags has brought positive outcomes for cases of injustice. The study recommends further studies on this topic and the need to educate social media users on the correct and purposeful use of hashtags to bring social change. Key Words: Instant Hashtags, Hashtagging, Online, Jury, Judge. About the Author * Yetunde Oluwayemisi Ayobolu, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Koladaisi University, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria. She is a researcher with interests in Development Communication, Broadcasting & Gender Studies. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, October 2024, pp. 90-104 © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). Article Citation Ayobolu, Y. O. (2024). Instant hashtagging#: The online “judge and jury”. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 16 (2): 90-104. Full Article Words: 9,077 Pages: 15 To access full article, click on download.