Abstract:
The debate on the effect of social media usage on national security has been receiving scholarly attention owing to the indispensable and critical role that social networking sites play in today's modem society. However, the debate has been inconclusive given that the current academic scholarship seems to produce varied results. To this end, this paper attempted to bridge conceptual and empirical gap by delving into the links of social media on national security in Kenya. To achieve this end, the specific objectives of the study were to: examine the impact of social media usage on national security Assess the use of social media to detect and prevent threats; and determine strategies designed to curb and minimize negative effects of social media on Kenya's national security. The paper adopted the technological determinism theory agenda setting theory, and securitization theory to describe theoretical constructs that underline this study. The study will apply exploratory and descriptive design since the study seeks to delineate the effect of social media on national security. The research targeted personnel in government institutions that oversee national security and dissemination of information, such as Communications Authority of Kenya, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigation, the National Intelligence Service. Due to vast geographical scope of intelligence gathering, the study will be limited to headquarters of the three organs of national security, which are based in Nairobi City (N=118). The study adopted random systematic sampling technique, where a random respondent will be selected, while the subsequent respondents will be selected using a sample interval of 5 (n=59). Primary and secondary sources of data were used, where primary data will be gathered using semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Analysis of data established that social media has a greater negative impact on national security than a positive one and that that social media can be used by law enforcement officers to detect and prevent security threats. In addition, the study established that that social networking sites should be monitored for possible activities that may threaten the security of the nation. The study recommends that that relevant government authorities should intensify social media surveillance and monitoring of content shared on these platforms to control and abate threats to national security. In addition, the study recommends that the government should send law enforcement agents for superior trainings to attain specialized technological