Perceptions and experience of social media use among adults with physical disability in Nigeria: attention to social interaction

Abstract

While studies in social media and disability are growing globally, there is paucity in such studies in Nigeria. This study addresses this apparent gap by exploring the experiences and perceptions of Nigerian adults living with physical disability regarding social media, using an interpretive approach. A total of nine adults with physical disability between the ages of 20 and 34, living in urban areas, were interviewed in this study. Findings show that participants experienced diminished social contact and smaller social networks due to their disability. However, participants who used social media experienced increased social contact, developed social relationships, and had larger social networks. Participants also acknowledged social media as a useful platform for disability advocacy and awareness. Results support a call for continued efforts to support adults with physical disability experiencing diminished social contact to use social media to increase their social wellbeing. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Points of interest

• The paper examines the perceptions and experience of social media use among adults with physical disability in Nigeria.

• Analyses show that adults with physical disability in Nigeria experience some form of diminished social contact and smaller social networks due to their disability.

• Nigerian adults with physical disability who use social media experience increased social contact, establish and maintain social relationships, and have a larger social networks.

• Adults with physical disability in Nigeria acknowledge social media as a useful platform for disability awareness and advocacy.

• This research recommends that Nigerian adults with physical disability experiencing diminished social contact should use social media to increase their social wellbeing.

Keywords:

• Physical disability
• social media
• social contact
• social network

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.