Content creators and consumers have been urged to always verify the sources of information they post and access on social media to identify and prevent the dissemination of fake news.
The Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Rivers State Council, Doctor Ijeoma Tubosia, made the call on a live radio programme in Port Harcourt.
Doctor Tubosia attributed the popularity of social media in the present era to its interactive feature, immediacy, convenience and business opportunities it creates.
She noted that new media facilitate academic research, family integration, and project work.
However, Doctor Tubosia enumerated the hazards of the new media to include the circulation of fake information and cultural invasion.
“You monitor what your children watch, like in the cable TV, use child protection application. A little child that is not of age, don’t allow him to have social media handle. You are not going to cage them for you cannot cage them but try as much as possible to be intentional about knowing what they do on social media. You can delete their content, guide them, they may prove stubborn, but you try the best you can and leave the rest for God”, she said.
Also see: Dangote Group Set for NGX Listing
Doctor Tubosia, who attested to the negative influence social media has on youths and the underage, advised parents to monitor and guide their wards on the wholesome use of the new media.
“The negative aspect is AI video deception, cyberbullying, advertisement of fake lifestyle, a lot of celebrities, as I gather live fake lifestyle on social media, childbullying is another disadvantage.
Youths and kids these days are so addicted to social media, and it causes distraction,” she explained.
She gave reasons for the abuse of the social media space to include free entry, weak regulation and unprofessionalism.
The media personnel urged untrained content creators to avail themselves of the opportunities made available by both government and NGOs to acquire training to practice responsible Journalism.
