Internet based applications and social media are inextricably linked to modern businesses; each contributing to and having impact on the other. Social media platforms specifically have been used to share information among internet users both within and outside the tourism industry. They allow people to engage in conversations with one another and are regarded as the future of communication. They present people with a countless array of internet platforms that increase and enhance the sharing of information. They make the transfer of text, photos, audio, video and electronic information in general easy. Social media platforms include Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, blogging, Linkedin, Flickr, Whatsapp, Wechat, Badoo, Quantcast, etc. These communication modes have experienced a tremendous growth during the recent past years, and as they continue to grow, so is the importance of harnessing their contributions as marketing and management tools for businesses, especially the tourism industry, since the industry has long relied so much on the spread of information through the word-of-mouth, destination popularity and other forms of print media. The research, therefore, takes a look at the selected social media platforms available in Nigeria and how they are used for tourism promotion and development. To achieve these aims, the research employs an ethnographic method of data collection through the distribution of questionnaires via http://www.surveymonkey.com to elicit useful information on the subject matter from users of social media in Nigeria. The study argues that social media platforms are actively used for tourism development and promotion, though the usage is still poor when compared to other countries. Hence, there is need to create enabling environment for increased usage
