Tackling Gains, Challenges of Social Media

Sunday, May 12, 2013 was World Communication Day, a date in liturgical calendar that has become a global observance since 1967. It is intended to draw global attention to the importance of effective communication and exchange of information and ideas for societal good, and human civilisation.

In keeping with this, the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Information and Communications Monday convoked a discussion forum that sought to address the emerging challenges and gains of the social media, with a view to tapping from the abundant benefits of social networks towards mobilisation.

This year’s theme: Social Network: Portals of Social Mobilisation cannot come at a better time than now, when the social media has virtually redefined the nature, mode, speed and dynamics of global communication.   Truth is, the days when the world communication needs were dependent solely on the traditional mass media namely: radio, newspapers, television, analogue telephone and others as a way of communication are gone. So also has the speed and mileage changed.

At no time has the power of such social networks as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo! Messenger and Skype been more aptly demonstrated than during the Arab Spring of 2010 which led to the eventual overthrow and death of the Libyan strongman, Muamar Gaddafi, and the forced exit of Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, among others in a series of popular uprisings across North Africa.

The social media were also known to have been effective during the Occupy Wall Street sit-outs that were organized to protest against the continued concentration of economic power in the hands of a few capitalists at a time when the United States of America (USA) and most European economies were witnessing downturns.

It is also instructive to add that the social media are increasingly being used for evangelism, business promotion, product marketing and job search. In fact, the power of social networks in defining information dissemination, especially as it concerns governance in countries of the world can no longer be underestimated.

Today, information management has become a global need in the hands of individuals. However, with the advantages of speed and freedom come challenges of ensuring authenticity of information dissemination through such social channels and the apparent subjugation of the time-tested requirements of ethical consideration in information management by the traditional media.

With such speed that makes facts verification virtually impossible, there is the need for global appraisal of the workings of social networks.

With the  focus on this year’s world communication day, we expect policy makers to properly appraise the challenges posed by the social networks, particularly as they concern unwholesome activities of hackers and other mischief makers who may capitalise on the freedom offered by the system to wreak havoc on global best practices in information management, especially as it concerns dissemination of falsehoods in a volatile and highly polarised world.

For instance, the recent murder of a Nigerian girl, Cynthia Osokogu, by persons she allegedly met on Facebook points to the pervasive risks and threats that can be associated with the use of social media. Examples of that kind impose on countries of the world and, indeed, service providers the need to articulate necessary checks to help reduce the destructive disadvantages of the freedom which social networks provide today. It should also challenge information managers to tap from the bountiful advantages, through positive engagement of users.

This is why we commend the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications for finding it necessary to work towards maximising the benefits of social networks for good of society.  We understand that the issue was discussed by well-informed professionals, under the chairmanship of Professor Bene Willie Abbey, and hope that the outcome will lay the necessary foundation for a more responsible use of social media for global information needs and development.  It should also set the tone for review of the future policy direction by planners of the social media platforms.

Even so, we commend the use of social media for the sense of competition their activities have placed on the information management demands of the traditional media and putting them on their toes, as they concern timely and factual reporting and focus.