HEATED DEBATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION Should government regulate the use of Social Media in Nigeria? That is one of the issues that delegates are debating based on the report of the Committee on Science, Technology and Development, which was presented to the plenary on Thursday. Chief Mike Ozekhome, while making his position known on the issue, argues that it is high time that Nigerians began to be creative in ways and manners we solve our issues. “And one of them is through science and technology.” He advances that there should be a legal framework to control the use of social media because of the way the new media have been abused. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria observes that despite that Nigeria has various laws of defamation – libel and slander; if someone commits a libel on social media, it will be difficult to “hold on to it like newspaper.” He likens the workings of social media to spirit and myth. He bemoans the speed at which information, good or bad, travels fast unchecked via social media platforms. While calling on government to regulate the social media, Chief Ozekhome argues that regulation is needed to safeguard the ethics of the children. He said, “The Social Media is almost mythical. It is like a spirit. Before you finish speaking, the thing has gone viral. We need to control it so as to control the ethics of our children. Now, you can log on to get any kind of information that is very obscene and anti-social. There is need for government intervention in this regard.” In her contribution, the youngest delegate at the conference, Ms Yadoma Bukar Mandara, stresses the multiple positive effects of the social media in the digital age and its impacts on creating national harmony and cohesion among the Nigerian youths. According to her, “We have left the era of gongs and town crying. We are in the era of tweets and instant messages. This (new) generation is so united that we communicate with each other by a click of the button.” Using her own personal experience, she informs delegate how social media has helped to build bridges across the nation: “While I was in Borno State at the height of this insurgency, my brothers and friends across Nigeria from Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Osogbo were all sending messages to know if I was fine. These are the people I do not know.” Ms Mandara further informs delegates that social media has solidified the unity of the Nigerian youths: “This generation is so united by a click of the button. We want to tell the older generations that we the upcoming generations are so united. Make no mistake about it; don’t bring the issue of breaking Nigeria because we can use the power of technology to fight you.” She therefore proposes that the conference should include in its recommendation that the social media has contributed in improving national unity especially among the younger generation. While concurring with the submissions of Ms Mandara on the positive effects of the social media on the new generation, a delegate from Benue State calls on delegates to examine closely the issue of regulation of the new media. He challenges delegates to look at the positive side of social media. He said, “We need to look at the benefits of social media than its demerits. If not for the social media, the Chibok girls (issue) was something that was not taken seriously but owing to social media, the whole world is taking about this. We need to look more at the advantages. Same when we had petroleum increase years back, the occupy Nigeria came on board through the social media.” He argues that instead of making other laws to regulate the use of social media, the law we have in the statue book will suffice. “I will suggest that the law we have in the country today. The laws of slander can address the issue of over enthusiasm by those who use social media. I think it should be left the way it is, it is fast and importantly, it binds people together. What we are doing here is known out there by the minute, courtesy of the social media.” He continues, “Regulation is not the way to go. Right now, there is a bill at the parliament that talks about regulating social media and there are very funny sections there that talk about insulting political office holders. I think people should be allowed to express themselves. The right to freedom of expression. I think we should allow the social media flow for people to express themselves.” The National Conference is expected to take decision on the issue of regulation of social media, as contained in the report of the Committee on Science, Technology and Development at resumption of plenary on Monday.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:40:17 +0000
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