Tame The Excesses On Social Media Now, Before It Destroys Us! -By John Kokome

In today’s Nigeria, social media is no longer just a tool; it is a battleground. What began as a space for connection and expression has morphed into a theatre of outrage, misinformation, reputational assassinations, and coordinated manipulation. If we fail to confront its excesses now, we risk allowing it to corrode our democracy, fracture our social fabric, and undermine our collective future.

Platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok have democratized speech in unprecedented ways. They have given ordinary Nigerians a voice, amplified social causes, and exposed corruption that might otherwise have remained hidden. From civic engagement to entrepreneurship, their positive impact is undeniable.

But with great power has come minimal accountability.

False information now spreads faster than verified truth. A doctored video, a misleading headline, or a deliberately manipulated narrative can trigger ethnic tension, damage businesses, or incite panic within hours. In a country as diverse and sensitive as Nigeria, this is not merely an inconvenience; it is a national security risk.

We have seen how unverified claims have led to mob actions, destroyed reputations overnight, and inflamed already fragile communal relationships. Digital vigilantism has replaced due process. Trial by hashtag has become more influential than the courts. Once accused online, one is often presumed guilty, regardless of facts.

The economic consequences are equally troubling. Small businesses have collapsed under coordinated smear campaigns. Brands have suffered irreparable damage from viral falsehoods. Investors, both local and foreign, observe this volatility and question the predictability of our digital environment. In a nation striving to position itself as Africa’s tech hub, such instability is counterproductive.

There is also the psychological toll. The algorithms that power these platforms reward outrage. The louder, more divisive, and more sensational the content, the greater its reach. Young Nigerians are growing up in an ecosystem that normalizes insult as discourse and hostility as engagement. Cyberbullying is rampant. Mental health struggles, often exacerbated by online harassment and unrealistic portrayals of success, are rising.

Yet, whenever the conversation turns to regulation, the immediate response is fear: fear of censorship, fear of government overreach, fear of stifled dissent. These fears are not unfounded. Nigeria’s democratic journey has not been perfect, and skepticism toward regulatory intentions is understandable.

However, the absence of regulation is not freedom; it is chaos.

The debate should no longer be whether to regulate, but how to regulate responsibly. Sensible regulation does not mean silencing critics or policing opinions. It means creating guardrails that hold individuals and platforms accountable for demonstrable harm. It means demanding transparency in algorithms, clear content moderation standards, and swift action against coordinated misinformation networks.

Countries across the world are grappling with the same challenge. The European Union has enacted digital service regulations aimed at compelling tech companies to take greater responsibility for harmful content. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind, nor can it afford to adopt heavy-handed approaches that undermine civil liberties.

What we need is a balanced framework built on three pillars.

First, platform accountability. Social media companies must be required to maintain functional local grievance mechanisms, respond promptly to verified harmful content, and cooperate with lawful investigations. Their profit models cannot continue to prioritize engagement at the expense of societal stability.

Second, legal clarity. Defamation, incitement, and deliberate misinformation should have clear digital definitions within Nigerian law, enforced transparently and fairly. The law must protect both freedom of expression and citizens from malicious harm.

Third, digital literacy. Regulation alone cannot solve this crisis. Citizens must be equipped to question sources, verify information, and understand the consequences of sharing unverified claims. Media literacy should become a national priority, embedded in our educational curriculum and public awareness campaigns.

Taming social media excesses is not about controlling voices; it is about preserving the integrity of our national conversation. If we continue to allow online spaces to be weaponised without consequence, we risk normalising disorder and eroding trust in institutions, businesses, and even one another.

In recent times, some events monitored across various social media platforms in the country are quite despicable and embarrassing, and should be condemned by every sane-thinking person.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. We can either proactively shape our digital future with thoughtful safeguards or wait until another crisis forces reactionary measures upon us.

The time to act is now, not when the damage becomes irreversible, not when social cohesion has been irreparably fractured, and not when trust in our public discourse has completely collapsed.

Social media is a powerful tool. But without responsibility and regulation, it can become a weapon. And no nation thrives when it allows unrestrained weapons to define its public square.

John Kokome

A Communications Strategist and Public Affairs Analyst writes from Lagos

kokomejohn@yahoo.com