Journalists from various media houses in Niger state, under the auspices of Progressive Media Practitioners, have organized a summit for youths in the state to curb irresponsible and negative use of social media.
The One Day Niger State Social Media Summit tagged “Social Media: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” had participants from two public secondary schools in Minna, the Press Club in the State College of Education, the Fati Lami Abubakar Institute of Legal and Administrative Studies, youth leaders, civil society organizations and the media.
The Convener, Dan Atori of New Telegraph Newspaper in his address advised the youths on the need for responsible use of social media adding that the negative effects of social media are strong enough to bring down a country.
“There is the need for the responsible use of the social media that will enhance and advance the cause of humanity, deepen brotherhood, entrench peace and overcome evil.
“Like any other development, social media has its own good, bad and ugly sides. However, they may look small but the effects if the bad use of social media is strong enough to bring a country down.”
Atori then called on President Buhari’s to prevail on Senators to push for a Bill that will boost journalists’ welfare in the country.
He also called on the National Assembly to reconsider and drop the bills on hate speech and social media offenders adding that nobody can muzzle Nigerians.
“The National Assembly should reconsider and drop these bills and ensure that they propose a bill that will improve the welfare of media practitioners instead of proposing bills that will gag the media that fought tirelessly for the democracy we are enjoying today.
“I call on the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi from Niger North who proposed a bill on hate speech and Senator Sani Musa from Niger East who proposer a bill on Social Media offenders to Harlem to the voice of the majority because nobody can muzzle Nigerians.”
He said that the Progressive Media Practitioners is a group of young, determined and resourceful media practitioners of like minds who come together from various media organizations to join hands together to give back to society in their best capacities.
In her presentation on the bad and ugly sides of the social media, the Lead Facilitator of the Summit, Justina Asishana said that while the social media has changed a lot of things for good, there are some bad and ugly effects of the social media which the youths need to be wary of.
She gave cyber-bullying, stalking and misinformation as the ugly effects of social media while rejection, sleep disorder, speech defects, depression, anxiety and a high rate of suicide as the bad sides of social media.
Asishana said, “for the government to make a change on social media will take but as individuals, we can be change agents ourselves and propagate the responsible use of the social media among our friends and families, in our schools, communities, and homes.”
Mr. Emperor Simon of Channels Television also presented a paper titled, ‘Social Media: a Curse or a Blessing?’ while Professor Nicholas Iwokwagh, the Dean of School of ICT in the Federal University of Technology Minna presented a paper on ‘Social Media Governance and Development in Nigeria: Interrogating the relationship, examining the impacts and prospects for the future”.
Over 150 Students, media practitioners, security agencies and political media officers were in attendance.
