Some ICT experts have said
that the impacts of social media in the lives of the youths are more positive as many of them have been gainfully engaged thereby reducing unemployment.
The experts made this known in separate interviews with newsmen in Abuja.
President and Chief Executive Officer of High-Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Children Mrs Omowunmi Hassan said that social media had created employment for youths in the country.
She said that social media was one of the best things that happened to the world, especially the younger generation, “who are ICT savvy”.
“In the face of the economic challenges where young people don’t really have a platform, the social media is like their office, their work space, where they could air their opinions,” she said.
She said that the social media was a platform where the youths showcased their talents and works; they make themselves known to people and connect with friends and associates from all over the world.
“This is a whole lot of attraction to young people who obviously are not always in one place.
“There are a lot of social media platform, you have the Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram with different social importance.
“Our young people have found this platform very expressive to say what they feel and how they feel, especially in the time of democracy like this, they speak their minds freely, ” she said.
Hasan explained that the medium was also an avenue for online journalism, adding that information from the local, states and even the federal levels were shared.
She said that this had assisted in reporting what had been happening around and had created avenue for learning.
“The social media for me is a wonderful platform, though it has its lapses and disadvantages but I believe with time it will be one of those things that we will overcome, ” she added.
Mr Anietie Etuk , the Managing Director of Teencoders, an ICT training platform for teenagers said a lot of micro businesses that were coming up were conceived from the social media.
Etuk noted that these businesses were managed by the young people and this had created employment for them.
He said that social media and ICT, if properly harnessed and funded could boost economic development “in no small way”.
On her part, Ms Fatima Danjuma, another ICT expert urged the youths and other social media users to ensure security of any sites before opening them, saying unsecured sites could be identified by their addresses.
According to Danjuma, visiting social media sites has more positive values that outweigh its disadvantages.
“Social media sites are available for all, including youths, but should be visited with caution.
“Each secured site has security icon “https’ in its address, but any site that has only `http’ without the `s’ is not a secured site.
“It is therefore important for internet users, especially the youths to look out for such code before opening any site.
“The world is fast becoming internet world, where banking, buying, and other services are done online, that is the more reason for all internet users to look out for the security of any site before opening them.
“A situation where somebody gives his or her bank details or personal details to an unsecured site can be regrettable at times,” she added.
In a related development, some parents also expressed their views on the use of social media.
Mrs Yinka Bello, a parent said: “knowledge is not restricted to a source; social media is a good means of enriching ones knowledge, especially as the world has become a global village through internet.
“Students who are studying any course in Nigerian tertiary institutions can add to their knowledge through positive visits to sites that are related to their courses.
“Just like everything in life, social media also has its downside, but its good side highly outweighs its negative side,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Paul Agwu, another parent urged parents and guardians to always task their wards on likely implications of visiting social media sites that promote bad habits like pornography, homosexuality and financial fraud.
“As parents, we should always educate our youths to explore positive side of internet and shun the bad sites where bad habits are being promoted.
“Not every parent can afford those schools that teach high standard education, but through internet (social media), everyone can acquire standard knowledge,” he said.
It would be recall that losses to cybercrimes are on the increase globally, while some sites promote illicit habits to visitors.