DR IFEANYI EGWUATU
Social Media in this epoch of digital dominance and ubiquity has become an intrinsic part of life, particularly among youths.
However, beneath this catchy facade breathes a myriad of baneful upshots that peril the development and education of our future leaders.
The youths, tending to north of 60% of our population, are disproportionately vulnerable to this Western-centric content and ideals that have, through the instrument of unmitigated stream of notifications and updates, supplanted traditional Nigerian values leading to Cultural Identity Crisis, Decline of Community Cohesion and Loss of Moral Compass.
Granted, the social media ecosystem renders a suite of fiscal transmutation for some, the heightened debasement of our collective inheritance and societal symbols is not close to being good enough. Some, under the canopy of anonymity…so they think anyway, shoot recklessly and unremittingly even at decorum itself. The space has become a leveller! Without regulation, it impugns on our reverend castes and goes further to obscure emulation and mentorship.
While Social Media platforms provide unparalleled opportunities for connection, interaction and information sharing, the deleterious impact on youths’ development and education is a profound concern as it is fostering a culture of distraction and estrangement. The inherent divagation impedes centring, diminishing the capacity for mentation, scholarly analysis and meaningful engagement with educational materials.
Research has established that EXCESSIVE Social Media use, of course it evinces craving, nay, addiction, erodes cognitive abilities by weakening memory consolidation, discouraging critical thinking and minifying attention span.
The destruction is curated like their reels. It begins with emotional distress in the form of low self-esteem and exacerbated feelings of dally; then anxiety and finally narcissism. The aforementioned birth cyberbullying and online harassment, descreased academic work, dishonesty and plagiarism.
These insidious effects of social media on our youths must be mitigated to save the leaders of tomorrow.
The imperative of superintendence over these youths need not be overemphasized. It should be a collective responsibility of government, parents/guardians and pedagogues.
Policy makers like the NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission) should step up their monitoring obligations by enacting and enforcing laws to guide youths on social media usage.
Parents should spare time to watchdog their children’s activities online.
And schools must incorporate digital literacy into curricula.
The consequences of Social Media Abuse on all need not be hyperbolized. For our youths, our pride! it devours the fabric of this great force by infringing on their both developmental and educational values which harms sanity and good leadership.