The Role of Libraries in the Abuse of Social Media for National Security

Abstract

This paper examined the role of libraries in the abuse of social media for national security, with particular reference to Facebook, WhatsApp, blog, Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter. It examined social media as a network of individuals or organizations with the regular entry of commentaries, posts, descriptions of events, or other materials such as graphics, audio, or videos. Social Media is an interactive network platform, allowing visitors to leave comments and send messages to each other through widgets. Social Media technologies are used for reference services in libraries by making its customers aware of new programmes and services; provision of a common platform to all clienteles for posting their views and valuable suggestions on the Library services; Provision of current awareness services; dissemination of news or resources of interest to the patrons, posting book reviews from researchers, staff, students and faculty members; communicating new arrivals (new acquisitions) to the customers; announcing library news and events and the like. Social media technologies are abused through account hacking, posting fake pictures, information cloning, lies as well as numerous activities of social network predators. The paper concludes that social media helps users and service providers to understand their strengths and weaknesses, which libraries are no exception. They must provide every opportunity to their users to provide feedback, both positive and negative, through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and on blog posts.