Social Networking User Sites and Their Implication on Personal Security of Dagoretti North Constituency Residents in Nairobi County

This study was necessitated by the rising wave of insecurity in the posh places of Nairobi County including in the gated areas that this study presupposed was linked to information shared in social networking user sites. The study was guided by three objectives; to identify the features of online interaction in social networking user sites and their implication on personal security of Dagoretti North Constituency residents in Nairobi County, to identify personal security risks associated with interaction on social networking user sites; and to establish the risk mitigation measures that cushion social networking users in Dagoretti North Constituency in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 378 members of public while Key Informants (K.I) guide were used to collect qualitative data from 10 K.I who comprised of; police officers in crime branch sections of Kilimani and Kawangware police stations. Stratified random sampling technique was used to pick the main respondents. Data was analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and results presented using descriptive statistics. Qualitative responses were presented in verbatim quotes and selected comments. According to this study, Instagram (61.9%), Facebook (48.7%), Google+ (42.1%) and Twitter (31.5%) were the most frequently used sites, used every day. The study concluded that; social media sites expose user’s geographical coordinates, allow the use of pseudo names and credentials that disguise the criminals making them difficult to apprehend, made it easy to find victims with just a few keystrokes, allows replication of information and conceal originality, and hence predisposes user’s credentials to theft. The different features of social media networking sites exposed users to major personal security risks such as abductions, rape, robberies, break-ins, murders and burglaries. In order to address the personal security risks brought about by disclosure of personal identifiable information on social networking sites on the users, the study recommended policy formulation through the ICT ministry to create mechanisms for reaching out to SNS users for purposes of user education on safe usage of SNS. Further, as a matter of policy, the government should benchmark with developed countries for advanced preventive regulations measures against social networking vulnerability hence cushion and protect SNS users.