REGULATING DIGITAL CRIME: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

With the rapid growth of digital platforms, crimes such as cyberbullying, internet fraud, incitement to violence, and digital blackmail have increased, posing new challenges for law enforcement and legal institutions. This paper explores the complex relationship between social media, criminal behaviour, and public law in Nigeria. The study aims to examine how social media facilitates criminal conduct, the legal and procedural hurdles in investigating such offences, and the extent to which Nigeria’s current legal framework, particularly the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, addresses these realities. Drawing on doctrinal legal analysis and criminological theory, the article assesses the effectiveness of existing laws in balancing law enforcement objectives with constitutional protections such as privacy and free expression. It also investigates the role of social media in shaping public perception and in the rise of digital vigilantism. The findings reveal significant enforcement gaps, jurisdictional issues, and limited investigative capacity within law enforcement. The article concludes by recommending legal reforms, digital literacy initiatives, and the establishment of clearer investigative and evidentiary protocols to ensure a more responsive, rights-respecting legal approach to digital-era crimes in Nigeria.