Digital media and sustainable development: A development communication perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67490/ijlc.v1i3.1008Keywords:
Digital media, Sustainable development, Development communication, Mobilizatio, Environmental awarenessAbstract
Background: Digital media has become an increasingly important instrument for communication, social mobilisation and development in contemporary society. Objective: This paper examines the relationship between digital media and sustainable development from a development communication perspective, with particular attention to the Nigerian context. Method: The paper adopts a conceptual review approach to examine the meaning, characteristics and types of digital media and their potential contributions to sustainable development. Results: The review establishes that digital media is characterised by speed, accessibility, interactivity, multimedia capacity, user-generated content, wide geographical reach and rapid feedback, which enable individuals, governments, development agencies and communities to disseminate and access development-related information more efficiently. Social media, websites, online news platforms, blogs, podcasts, mobile applications, video-sharing platforms and digital streaming services are identified as major forms of digital media that provide opportunities for information dissemination, public education, knowledge sharing, social mobilisation, behavioural change and citizen participation, and that contribute to the economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainable development through entrepreneurship, education, health communication, environmental awareness, public participation and access to information. However, challenges such as misinformation, the digital divide, inadequate digital infrastructure, limited digital literacy and cybersecurity concerns may constrain its developmental impact. Novelty: This paper offers an integrated conceptual perspective that connects digital-media characteristics and typologies to the economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainable development within a development-communication framework specific to the Nigerian context.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tope Joseph Olorunmola, Bashir Amoda Ajijola, Halimat Abdulrazak, Khadijat Olubukola Saliu, Fatimoh Zubair Shade
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License