Abstract:

This study assessed the information-sharing pattern of political issues among WhatsApp users in Port Harcourt. The objectives of the study were to: find out the frequency to which WhatsApp users in Port Harcourt authenticate their sources before sharing political issues on group platforms, identify the information-sharing pattern on political issues among WhatsApp users in Port Harcourt; and determine whether the trend of information sharing conforms to gatekeeping processes of confirmation of sources before sharing. The study was anchored on the technological determinism and social responsibility theories. The research design was the survey design using the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. The population for the study was estimated at 1,401,271 from the National Population Commission census figure of 2006 for Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Using Keyton's (2001) Table, the sample size for the study was 384. Findings revealed that the extent of sharing political information instantaneously without authenticating their sources was high among WhatsApp users. It was found out that WhatsApp users liked the trend of sharing topical issues whether the sources of the information were authenticated or not, and that the pattern of information sharing did not totally conform to sound journalistic approach of using gatekeepers to curb the sharing of falsehood. Among others, the researchers recommended that users of social media should strive towards authenticating the source of their information before sharing it and that users should uphold the sharing of truthful information at all times.