The Dark Side of Social Media: Its Effects on Our Society, by Issa Hamed Alhaji

A gentleman once remarked, “So it’s a prank, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, was not deceased,” after being misled by a misinformation video on Facebook. Meanwhile, it is common knowledge among Nigerians that Mohbad had indeed passed away, but the false information on social media left the man in a state of shock, and he subsequently began disseminating the erroneous information to the public.

In 1997, Six Degrees pioneered the concept of social media. Social media platforms are designed for interactive communication and entertainment purposes. However, social media has proven detrimental to society, as it perpetuates misinformation, leading to widespread misunderstandings and misconceptions.

Evidently, excessive social media usage can also lead to cyberbullying, as exemplified by Ojesanmi Afeez Opeyemi, popularly known as Oloba Salo on TikTok, who reported that his apprentice, Salo Junior, threatened to kill him and use his head for ritualistic purposes.

Similarly, the highly publicized case of Nollywood actors Iyabo Ojo and Baba Ijesa, which resulted in Baba Ijesa’s incarceration, was a consequence of cyberbullying. Moreover, the renowned blogger Verydarkman was also imprisoned due to allegations of cyberbullying.

Furthermore, social media exposes users to inappropriate content, as I personally experienced on my TikTok app when an explicit video discussing sexual themes was suggested to me.

Following the video, the app promptingly inquired whether I deemed the content inappropriate for all audiences or merely for children under 18. This incident highlights the abundance of inappropriate content accessible to minors on social media, which can have a deleterious impact on their development.

Ultimately, excessive social media engagement can hinder individuals from achieving success in life, as it can lead to depression and an unhealthy fixation on superficial content, such as extravagant lifestyles and material possessions.