The Dark Side of Social Media in the Digital Age -By Adamu Ahmad Umar

Over the course of ten years, social media has become a modern town square that connects thousands of people globally. It has made interactions easier, simple than ever as a result of the availability of smartphones and access to internet and digital tools. This development has created a digital world in our lives and shifted us from the oldest ways of communicating to more sophisticated way. However, despite these benefits, social media also has a dark side. Behind its advantages, there are problems that are slowly and gradually turning this digital world into a dirty place.

Unfortunately, nowadays, social media are being used by some youth as a virtual hotel for sexual interactions. The exchange of nude images/videos seems like a special gift between teenagers: sexting and explicit messages through social media have become signs of expressing affection. With smartphones, the upbringing of our youth, especially young men and women, has been negatively affected. Platforms that were once known as centers of friendship based on values and social norms are now turned into a prostitution space.

For instance, a study published in Computers in Human Behavior in 2024 found that about 58 % of Nigerian social media teenagers reported engaging in sexting, which means they had either shared or received sexually explicit images or messages through online. This research also showed that Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Tiktok are the central hubs for this negative behaviours. raising concerns about the future of our cultural heritage and social norms.

In addition, a survey reported by Kaspersky (2020) found that only 19% of parents in Nigeria are connected with their adult children on social media to monitor their activities. While the majority do not actively track or review what their children do on social media. This lack of supervision can contribute to negative behaviors, as young people may adopt harmful habits without guidance. The lack of parental involvement in social media use causes the collapse of proper upbringing among young people.

Worse still, in Nigeria, the government has failed to establish effective policies and regulations to control harmful content on social media. This has also worsened interactions on such platforms. The government’s inaction opens the door for many young people to embrace bad behavior, and its carelessness exposes young people to nudity and sexting on social media, hurting their morals even though their parents have given them good upbringing.

Finally, social media has many benefits; yet, it also has serious dangers for our young people. If it is not properly controlled, it can destroy the morals and values that our society respects. Parents, the government, and community leaders must work together to make this digital world a cleaner and safer place for our youths. By doing so, social media in Nigeria will be a space for knowledge, morals, and positive development.