This is the Net. A wide world of possibilities. That’s what someone once told me when I observed him on his unpalatable commentaries.
Sometimes I shake my head in amazement over the flagrant hypocrisy and even double standard displayed on the social media.
It is very common to see a respectable person who toils upwards to become the governor of his state, or even the president of the country, being portrayed in negatively-graphic lies and nasty descriptions full of condescension, sometimes by a resident of a remote corner of the map, probably one who is not more than a child with no requisite exposure, education and knowledge to fully understand his environment.
But because it is the Net, many will comment in his support, others will hail him. We’ve seen that happen to even the President. And, then, Kaput! Nothing happens thereafter. Why? Because it is the Net, a free zone where everyone is king and does what one likes without boundaries.
This brings us to the thorny issue I and many others have always advocated.
Just like some countries of the World, Nigeria needs, and must, promptly and efficiently regulate its social media activities on the Net.
Anyone who passes judgement on anyone of wrong doing on the net by being choosy in his judgement should, himself, be judged according to the new law. Because it is lawlessness that is seen and experienced everyday.
The whole scenario is akin to the wild world, where laws are made by every animal for itself and the mightier animal carries the day by imposing its laws on others.
No one has the right to provoke and smear anyone and go away with it. No one also has the right to insult upon provocation and goes away with it. No one has the right to denigrate his leader at will and goes away with it. A leader is what he is. There are ways of decorum to advise a leader. But the Social media seems to know no decurum.
In this country, what we see daily is beyond mere abuses and insults on our leaders, elders, respectable institutions, but outright opportunistic ways of condescension and expression of hate. It’s time we think hard; it’s time we think change.
Bappah is the Special Adviser to Zamfara state governor on public enlightenment, media and communication, writes from Zamfara
