Social media fostering social good: a case of election monitoring in Nigeria

Abstract

The power of crowd-sourced social data can be combined with the precision of formal on-the-ground observations in a way that is of benefit to social causes in civil society. To do this, we are developing technological platforms, human and social processes and the underlying creative abilities to leverage social media and formal observer networks to enhance and promote social causes in developing countries. In our previous work, we highlighted the importance of social media aggregation for election monitoring using our technological platform, Aggie, for elections in Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. In this case study, we seek to introduce new insight by sharing our experiences and understanding on leveraging formal observation techniques in validating and reinforcing the veracity of real time aggregated social media generated reports [10]. In this paper, we will treat election monitoring as an instance of civic management.