Disinformation by Design: A Typology-Sensitive Analysis of Social Media Content and Vulnerability in Nigeria

This conceptual study explores how distinct types of social media content contribute to the spread of disinformation in Nigeria. It focuses on thematic categories such as personal, political, health-related, marketing, sensational, and event-specific content. The study examines how each type interacts with user interpretation and platform dynamics. Drawing on communication theory, cultural reception studies, and platform analysis, the paper proposes a typology-sensitive framework that explains disinformation as the result of overlapping factors including content form, emotional salience, cultural familiarity, and algorithmic amplification. Rather than attributing disinformation solely to false content or user illiteracy, the analysis highlights how trust, relevance, and interpretive norms frame what social media users believe and share. Through contextual illustrations such as recent protest movements, the paper underscores the need for culturally grounded media literacy that is responsive to content type, audience context, and digital infrastructure. The framework offers a locally informed foundation for future research and educational interventions aimed at addressing disinformation in high-choice, low-literacy environments.