Converging Platforms: Examining the Impact of Social Media on Educational Broadcasting

The incorporation of social media into educational broadcasting has profoundly altered traditional paradigms of instructional content delivery, especially in the Global South. This paper critically examines the intersection between digital communication platforms and broadcast education, focusing on how tools such as blogs, podcasts, virtual classrooms, and social networking applications have redefined pedagogical practices in Nigeria. Anchored in the Uses and Gratifications Theory and Media Convergence Theory, the study interrogates the transformative impact of social media on the accessibility, participatory dynamics, and learner autonomy within educational broadcasting. By tracing the evolution of educational broadcasting in Nigeria, the paper situates current developments within a historical and socio-technological context, highlighting the ongoing shift from unidirectional to dialogic modes of knowledge dissemination. The communicative affordances of social media including real-time interactivity, collaborative learning, and multimodal content engagement are presented as pivotal innovations shaping contemporary learning ecosystems. Furthermore, the study reflects on the implications of this convergence for educational policy, curriculum innovation, and digital literacy enhancement in African contexts. The paper concludes that when strategically deployed, social media can serve as an equalizing force, enabling inclusive, decentralized, and learner-driven educational experiences aligned with 21st-century imperatives.