Monday 5 October 2015

HOSEI YOUTH SPEAKS; SOCIAL MEDIA: A BLESSING OR CURSE TO YOUTHS TODAY




In the world today the social media has become very popular and common that we can’t seem to do without it, this is because of the benefits gotten from it. The social media has enabled us to send and receive message, connect with family members and friends within seconds.

It allows for easy receiving and sending of vital information on happenings around the world. Students make use of search engines in making research on topics they do not understand or are given in school as assignment; they also gain more knowledge by doing this. These among other reasons are why you would see almost everyone even as young as nine years old on one social media or another.

However, the free access to these social media makes it a curse in the lives of youths today. Teenagers and small children are exposed to porn pictures and videos which are posted on the sites by other people. Some of these youths then see that as an avenue to practice whatever it is they have seen. The consequences of their action are many a time; a very bad one.

During chats, youths may fall prey into the hands of cyber bullies who hide behind their computer to promote deliberate hostile behavior towards other people. These cyber bullies have been blamed for the suicides and physical confrontation of teenagers across countries. Some of the languages used by teenagers on their sites are profane and brutal. They make use of foul languages which can bring about hurt feelings and destroyed self-esteem in other youths.

In making friends on these social media sites, youths engage in E-dating, they date across the internet, people they know little or nothing about. In the process, they sex chat and engage in all sorts of things that are socially unacceptable. This distracts a lot of youths and they are automatically reduced in academic excellence and morally too. The time spent on social media is also one of the demerits; youths spend quality time supposed to be spent on reading or engaging in religious activities on the internet doing nothing worthwhile. This also makes them educationally and spiritually unstable. 

These adverse effects of the social media on youths is something that is a duty of all to curb. Parents especially should monitor their wards use of social media and advise them on the positive and negative effects making it known to them to make use of it positively.

Whether or not the social media is a blessing all depends on how it is used. If it is abused and over used, then there would be adverse effects. When used correctly the benefits can far outweigh many of its downfalls.

Life is to be enjoyed and not to be endured!

- Adigun Muhsinah

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