Influence Of Social Networking Sites On Nigeria Youths.
- Where can one place Online Social Networks In Our Today's Society? A need as food, clothing & shelter?
- Are social networking sites doing more harm than good to Nigeria youths?
Generally speaking, the importance of social networking sites in our modern day society can't be overemphasized.
Though the ideas behind the establishment of these sites can vary from one another, but they're primarily established to connect people in different parts of the world easily, thus making the world a global village.
For instance, there are sites for love, ones for business, for interactions, etc, but all connect people that ordinarily may not have known themselves if there's nothing like social networking sites.
In this modern day society, we can't imagine our life without these social networks like facebook, twitter, IG( instagram), LinkedIn, etc?.
They have quickly become part of lives of members of the society especially the young ones.
There are lots of advantages with these social networking sites onboard in our generation.
These social sites are platforms which allow people to build social networks and relations with people who share same interests with them, using the internet.
Thus,
These social sites are platforms which allow people to build social networks and relations with people who share same interests with them, using the internet.
Thus,
*Social media are easily accessible when compared to print media, and also serve as meeting points for today's internet savvy audience.
*Social media open the possibilities of direct access to clients without problems of third party.
*They help in search engine optimization and increase in website rankings.
*In terms of advertisement, social networking sites are relatively cheap; costs incurred using print media, tv and others are more expensive than social media.
Young generation which comprises teenagers and middle age people are the major users of social media in Nigeria in particular.
These portion of the country's population do one or more things daily using these social networking sites, ranging from relationships to businesses( legitimate and illegal ones inclusive).
Some of the single youths can meet their wives, business associates/opportunities, old and important friends, etc online through the various social forums or sites.
Some Nigeria youths get scholarships through information shared on social media platforms like facebook, twitter, whatsapp, etc.
Oversea jobs and visa lotteries are sometimes being advertised on these platforms which some Nigeria youths have taken advantages of and bettered or raised their own standards of living.
Sometimes, interviews for foreign jobs are being done online using social media such as Skype, etc.
Also, there are online stores and jobs that Nigeria youths can take advantages of and be making legitimate money at the comfort of their home.
The opportunities social networking sites can provide to youths, etc seem endless.
These portion of the country's population do one or more things daily using these social networking sites, ranging from relationships to businesses( legitimate and illegal ones inclusive).
Some of the single youths can meet their wives, business associates/opportunities, old and important friends, etc online through the various social forums or sites.
Some Nigeria youths get scholarships through information shared on social media platforms like facebook, twitter, whatsapp, etc.
Oversea jobs and visa lotteries are sometimes being advertised on these platforms which some Nigeria youths have taken advantages of and bettered or raised their own standards of living.
Sometimes, interviews for foreign jobs are being done online using social media such as Skype, etc.
Also, there are online stores and jobs that Nigeria youths can take advantages of and be making legitimate money at the comfort of their home.
The opportunities social networking sites can provide to youths, etc seem endless.
However, online social media platforms can present some serious societal problems which form its disadvantages.
These problems range from fraudulent activities to indecent behaviors.
Through some of these social networking sites many unsuspecting individuals have lost fortunes to internet fraudsters who are mainly youths.
These youths seem to have jettisoned the more risky physical day to day robbery for cyber crime which they proudly call "yahoo-yahoo".
These yahoo-yahoo boys use different cooked stories or lies(which they refer to as FORMULAS) to make their victims believe or trust them, and finally yield to their demands.
These formulas can come in the shape of promising a victim marriage and asking him or her some money after getting some trust from the victim.
They can also come in the shape of business deals, church affairs, etc.
Also, some people have lost their lives by meeting their killers on the social networking sites.
Example in Nigeria is the popular case of one miss Cynthia who met some guys on facebook that later met her in a hotel for alleged "business appointment", and eventually killed her for reason(s) best known to them.
Many Nigeria youths like other youths, tend to copy more of bad things they see online than good things.
For instance, the young boys now copy the celebrities who they follow on the various social networking sites, to wear unreasonable stuffs( plaiting of hairs, wearing of earrings, etc) which ordinarily they wouldn't wear.
Furthermore through the various online social media networks, some marriages have broken.
Many married men and women have met people online who have made them to start cheating their partners.
Some married people may be on social media sites chatting and being in romance to some people they have not met before in real life; they maybe using typing words, exchange of nude pictures or video calls to arouse each other and make love online.
Surprisingly, many now prefer this online love making to sleeping with their live partners. Is this not handiwork of evil spirit? Lool.
In extreme cases, this online cheating or unfaithfulness has also led some married people to death (by quarreling and fighting with their suspecting partners), divorce, etc.
Seriously, these unhealthy online behaviors can lead one to total destruction if unchecked on time; it has destroyed many people and many peaceful homes in the society.
These problems range from fraudulent activities to indecent behaviors.
Through some of these social networking sites many unsuspecting individuals have lost fortunes to internet fraudsters who are mainly youths.
These youths seem to have jettisoned the more risky physical day to day robbery for cyber crime which they proudly call "yahoo-yahoo".
These yahoo-yahoo boys use different cooked stories or lies(which they refer to as FORMULAS) to make their victims believe or trust them, and finally yield to their demands.
These formulas can come in the shape of promising a victim marriage and asking him or her some money after getting some trust from the victim.
They can also come in the shape of business deals, church affairs, etc.
Also, some people have lost their lives by meeting their killers on the social networking sites.
Example in Nigeria is the popular case of one miss Cynthia who met some guys on facebook that later met her in a hotel for alleged "business appointment", and eventually killed her for reason(s) best known to them.
Many Nigeria youths like other youths, tend to copy more of bad things they see online than good things.
For instance, the young boys now copy the celebrities who they follow on the various social networking sites, to wear unreasonable stuffs( plaiting of hairs, wearing of earrings, etc) which ordinarily they wouldn't wear.
Furthermore through the various online social media networks, some marriages have broken.
Many married men and women have met people online who have made them to start cheating their partners.
Some married people may be on social media sites chatting and being in romance to some people they have not met before in real life; they maybe using typing words, exchange of nude pictures or video calls to arouse each other and make love online.
Surprisingly, many now prefer this online love making to sleeping with their live partners. Is this not handiwork of evil spirit? Lool.
In extreme cases, this online cheating or unfaithfulness has also led some married people to death (by quarreling and fighting with their suspecting partners), divorce, etc.
Seriously, these unhealthy online behaviors can lead one to total destruction if unchecked on time; it has destroyed many people and many peaceful homes in the society.
However, if one judges or argues base on these societal problems associated with the online social platforms, one may be forced to conclude that the platforms are evil and devil's ideas to destroy humanbeings, hence should be jettisoned or condemned.
Some parents even do warn and seize handsets of their children in efforts to discourage them from using the internet especially social networking sites or platforms.
But I must point out here that, the problem doesn't originate from the coming or birth of the internet world(or the online social sites).
Rather, the problem is as a result of societal decays which makes some members of the society to use every means available to them to do evil things for personal gains.
In other words, the primary function of internet(which the online social platforms are part of) is communication, but some members of the society who have criminal tendencies use them as tools to easily achieve selfish objectives and goals.
If possible, some people would have advocated for the ban of many online platforms because of evils done through them.
Some parents even do warn and seize handsets of their children in efforts to discourage them from using the internet especially social networking sites or platforms.
But I must point out here that, the problem doesn't originate from the coming or birth of the internet world(or the online social sites).
Rather, the problem is as a result of societal decays which makes some members of the society to use every means available to them to do evil things for personal gains.
In other words, the primary function of internet(which the online social platforms are part of) is communication, but some members of the society who have criminal tendencies use them as tools to easily achieve selfish objectives and goals.
If possible, some people would have advocated for the ban of many online platforms because of evils done through them.
However, like I rightly said before, creation of social media platforms is one of the good things that have happened to this generation.
Therefore, those that brought the ideas and built them to solve societal problems should be praised, not cursed.
They shouldn't be blamed for the wrong doings on these social networking sites by many youths(i.e moral decays or vices in our societies).
Basically, the problem is not from the social media(in itself) but from the fact that moral decays in our societies are on an increase.
Nowadays, young ones are always in search of the easiest/quickest way of going to heaven(i.e quickest ways of making money), instead of concentrating on their studies(for those who want to go to school) or learning some trades(or handworks, for those who can't afford to continue their education).
The aforementioned youths tend to put hands into internet fraud, rituals, kidnapping, robbery, etc.
Most of the modern day fraudulent acts are being done through the internet, as internet can be viewed as an electronic or online society.
It's now a thing of one bringing his or her fraudulent nature or character online(that is, in his or her doings/relationships with others in the online society) just like some companies or establishments bring their products and services to the internet for marketing, as most people now use the internet.
Therefore, those that brought the ideas and built them to solve societal problems should be praised, not cursed.
They shouldn't be blamed for the wrong doings on these social networking sites by many youths(i.e moral decays or vices in our societies).
Basically, the problem is not from the social media(in itself) but from the fact that moral decays in our societies are on an increase.
Nowadays, young ones are always in search of the easiest/quickest way of going to heaven(i.e quickest ways of making money), instead of concentrating on their studies(for those who want to go to school) or learning some trades(or handworks, for those who can't afford to continue their education).
The aforementioned youths tend to put hands into internet fraud, rituals, kidnapping, robbery, etc.
Most of the modern day fraudulent acts are being done through the internet, as internet can be viewed as an electronic or online society.
It's now a thing of one bringing his or her fraudulent nature or character online(that is, in his or her doings/relationships with others in the online society) just like some companies or establishments bring their products and services to the internet for marketing, as most people now use the internet.
In conclusion, you may be obviously wrong to say or suggest that online social platforms are evil to youths and society at large because of what people choose to do with them.
These social sites are more or less what you want them to be for you.
While some may utilize them to sell themselves or their products(showcase positive things they can offer to the society) to the world and become celebrated personalities, others can choose to use them to commit crimes and other evils.
Therefore, the problem is a thing of choice which in its own has relationships with one's upbringing and societal influences- morality.
These social sites are more or less what you want them to be for you.
While some may utilize them to sell themselves or their products(showcase positive things they can offer to the society) to the world and become celebrated personalities, others can choose to use them to commit crimes and other evils.
Therefore, the problem is a thing of choice which in its own has relationships with one's upbringing and societal influences- morality.
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