Communication is one of the fundamental means through which people command, caution and interact with one another, it is as old as human beings because the first created beings (Adam and Eve) communicated with each another. Primitive generations used so many ways in sending signals or messages to other people, they includes beating metal gong, lighting fire on hills, blowing flutes, beating local drums, firing dane-guns, intense ululations especially during marriage ceremonies, etc. Moreover, communication passed through generations and in each more advanced platforms and channels are created to enable people interact with fellows in far and near places with ease from their comfort zones.
Everyday, sophisticated gadgets for communication are invented and taken to markets, the more developed features are added to social media platforms, the easier messages and information are conveyed to target audiences. According to Global Digital Overview, Facebook has 2.910 billion users, Instagram 1.478 billion, twitter 436 million, Tiktok has 1 billion while Whatsapp has 2 billion active users. With smartphones and data, people interact live through video calls, share pictures, upload movable images as well as audio messages and get replies instantaneously. Despite these developments, youths in Africa and other parts of the world are now so addicted to social media where some could not spend 30 minutes without logging in instead of studying for better future, assisting parents with chores, learning skills to be independents , etc.
Regrettably, some users enjoy chatting in darkness by offing light not knowing the brightness from phones screens harm their eyes. An eye doctor working with Makka Specialist Hospital in Bauchi Abba Salisu Abba explained that ‘when the light is more than what eyes can accommodate, then the pupil constrict, but when the light is too low or in the darkness, then the pupil dilate to search for available light. He further revealed that frequent staring at light could result to itchy, watery, reddishness of eyes and if nothing is done could lead to blindness. Some parents purchase phones, laptops, tablets primarily to aid studies of their wards but without regular supervisions; unknown to them that most of their wards use such devices for irrelevant chatting or streaming pornographic contents in late hours.
These days, young ladies in recent years shamelessly upload videos of them on Tiktok dancing seductively in half-naked dressings; the act pushes some youths to raping teens, working sexually for sugar mummies or pay to satisfy themselves in brothels. Unfortunately, hours been spent interacting with friends on social media platforms by students are high compared to short time given for their studies or researches; that has contributed hugely in mass failure during exams. A students from the State Polytechnic even told me that he often times sacrifices his meal money to buy data primarily for chatting with friends. Sadly, many lost their lives after applying for jobs been advertised on social media, they were pushed to early graves by their employers in unspecified locations.
Shallow-minded adults and teenagers that heavily use social media platforms tend to believe whatever they come across and easily influence by peers thereby influencing them to snatch phones, robbery, kidnappings and other criminal acts to possess what celebrities have been bombarding them with on social media platforms. Consequently, most people in Nigeria believed that building crimes free societies is a collective responsibilities but only few are contributing in that direction, parents no longer check the kind of postings, comments, pictures been uploaded or whatever their children are doing on social media platforms but are good in condemning others. There would be no changes or redemption to the lost norms and values if no action is taken in training teenagers from their infancy stages of life; halting such it tend to be hard when they are matured and become addicted to social media platforms.
In summary, it is sacrosanct upon parents to be acting as watchdogs over all activities of their teenage sons and daughters on social media platforms. Parents should be collecting their devices and keeping with them for days in order to know the messages coming in or people they are interacting with; this would help them determine the best decision to be made. Social media laws should work on all and sundry irrespective of positions, backgrounds or influences; users sharing violent contents, abuse, or false accusation to innocents individual or groups should be punished to serve as lesson to others. Posting educational contents on social media should be encouraged and youths doing that need to be rewarded by authorities; doing such would significantly improve students’ academic performances thereby leading to good results.
Kobi Writes from Bauchi.
