BY ROSEMARY NWAEBUNI
A young man in a viral social media video claimed that Sen Ned Nwoko offered him and his group N5 million to harm his wife, Regina Daniels. Reacting to this allegation, Ned Nwoko’s team issued a formal statement refuting the claims, describing them as ‘’false narratives, malicious and part of a coordinated online campaign of harassment and defamation’’.
The young man who made the initial video later posted an apology video on social media, retracting his statement and begging for forgiveness, claiming it was for ‘’social media content’’ and he did not mean for it to escalate.
Sen Ned Nwoko’s legal representatives have since filed petitions with Nigerian security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the Cyber Crime Unit, to identify, track and prosecute those responsible for circulating the false, malicious and damaging allegations.
The above case highlights the fragrant misuse of social media, particularly by young Nigerians for sinister intentions, including character assassination, fraud, cyberbullying and the like. This unfortunate development has provoked debates among Nigerians on the urgent need to regulate the use of the social media space. Social media encompasses interactive internet platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (Twitter) and Snapchat, which allow users to create and share content, build online communities and connect with others. These platforms facilitate the instant exchange of ideas, personal messages, photos and videos for personal or professional purposes. They thus act as key digital communication tools.
Social media offers significant benefits for Nigerians, especially youths. Specific benefits offered by social media include self-expression and identity, which enable people to share their creativity, make their voice heard and build an online personality.
Social media equally plays a significant role in modern communication and information dissemination, influencing social, political and cultural landscapes worldwide.
Social media also provides access to information, enabling individuals and institutions to get real-time information, news and insight on current trends. These are aside from the interconnectivity and collaborative mechanisms it provides, including making it possible for people to stay in touch with distant friends and family, build new relationships and find support groups.
Social media engenders community building and creates social awareness, enabling people to join groups sharing common interests, learn about diverse cultures and global issues. The pivotal role of social media in business development and marketing cannot be overemphasised as it increases brand awareness, makes it easy for businesses to reach target audiences, drives website traffic and generates leads.
Social media supports businesses with marketing and customer service, while individuals can find support, learn new skills and connect with like-minded people across the globe. Social media helps to boost businesses by facilitating customer engagement, providing better support, gathering feedback and building brand loyalty. Social media equally enables business people to monitor trends in their respective industries, analyse competitors and get audience insights.
A star benefit of social media is that it provides learning tools for students, enabling them to connect with learning groups, access relevant educational content and teaching methods. It also provides educational/career opportunities through instant information access and diverse audience reach.
Unfortunately, rather than explore the many advantages social media holds and translate them to productive and beneficial ventures, many Nigerian youths are misusing it to advance courses that are antithetical to societal norms and values.
This misuse or abuse of social media by Nigerian youths manifests in the form of cyberbullying, misinformation and fake news, scam and fraud, inappropriate content, addiction, mental health issues, cultism and gang activity, political issues, privacy concerns, and distraction from education.
Many young Nigerians engage in online bullying or harassment, targeting their peers, high-profile personalities, celebrities and other public figures. Their motives range from clout chasing, traffic to their page, to attention seeking, resulting in mental health issues for the victims. Social media platforms are often used by many Nigerian youths to spread false information or hoaxes, especially concerning political matters, the health of high-profile people in society and social issues, which can have serious consequences.
Young Nigerians also use social media to perpetrate scams and fraud. Some youths are involved in online scams, using social media to commit fraud, including impersonation, money laundering operations and false narratives to deceive unsuspecting social media users.
Many youths utilise the social media space to promote negative behaviour. There are instances where youths glorify violence, drug use and other untoward behaviour, including blood rituals, through trends or challenges that circulate on social media. Many Nigerian youths equally engage in inauthenticity and self-image issues. They feel pressured to falsely present a glamorised version of their lives on social media, leading to issues surrounding body image, self-esteem and mental health.
Most Nigerian youths have become social media addicts as a result of excessive use of social media platforms. This development impacts their productivity, studies and mental health as they spend more time online than engaging in real-life activities.
Addressing the misuse of the social media space by individuals, particularly Nigerian youths, would require a collective effort from parents, educators and policy makers to promote responsible social media utilisation among Nigerian youths.
In the meantime, there is an urgent need for strict laws to regulate the social media space, considering the ease with which serious, damaging allegations can be made online without immediate consequences.
