It is worthy to note that social media has come to stay with us as a people and there is nothing that can be done to change it.
Social media can be defined as the tools that reduce the world to a global village. It is also a type of application that enable users to create, share content and participate in social networking.
Social media platforms provide opportunities for users to create online communities to share ideas, information, personal messages, etc. Some of the social media applications include WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Skype, Telegram, LinkedIn, etc.
Youths are predominantly users of the Internet and social media for social interaction. They cannot imagine life without the Internet and seek ways to connect virtually to everyone.
Newsextra24 understands that over half of the Nigerian population is under 30 years of age, and they are the ones most frequenting the Internet. We must harness the creativeness of the youth for the economic growth of Nigeria.
Bearing in mind that the Internet opens up a world of possibilities and opportunities to the youth, the consequences of ignorantly using social media by the youth should not be overlooked.
Social media provides a sense of community, where people share beliefs, ideas, and knowledge. Since its invention, it has become increasingly popular in different countries across the globe because it facilitates the passage of critical and vital information, especially during emergencies. However, the disadvantages almost outweigh the benefits.
Immorality is a serious anti-social behaviour posing a threat to the education, life and well-being of Nigerian youths. Cyberbullying, lesbianism, homosexualism, pornography, and derogatory and disparaging remarks usually leading to violent acts have been traced to improper use of social media.
A morally decadent society is on its way to ruin, as social media has undoubtedly promoted vices and led to moral decadence. However, shared content must also be kept positive.
While we are aware that social media can have positive effects on youths, we cannot discount its negative effects.
