Political socialization

Political socialization

Political socialization entails learning and internalization of political agendas through analysis of perceptions and views on how power is arranged and organized by a government. (Anderson, 2015). One of the roles of the media is to serve as a conduit between the general public and the government. For instance, it is used to provide information on actions of developments and the jurisdiction of the power vested in the government. (Cobb, 2020)

When I was 10, social media was not popular such as it is at the moment. The most common way of information dissemination was through the newspapers, local radio, and television stations. My father used to buy magazines and newspapers daily. I vividly remember this heated conversation about the poor drainage system in the city of Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. (Aderogba & Afelumo, 2012). All the newspapers, magazines, and local channels aired this heated motion in the city. The residents of Lagos Metropolis decided to take to the streets after the flooding of the town during a rainy season. I also remember that all the operations of the city were halted and paralyzed for several days. As an innocent 10-year-old, I remember the people chanting and moving around with written boards indicating “end to corruption”. On the other end, the political talk was about the city government who had misused public funds for self-gain.

Besides, I remember how my mother used to complain of delayed salaries alleging that the city government was the most corrupt. As a result, I learned that the flooding in the city was brought by poor drainage systems due to mishandling and embezzlement of funds. I realized I was politically socialized through my family members and the media through local television. I was able to listen and understand different political views and perceptions through my parents. (Gotlied & Shah, 2015)