The District Head of Chanso community, His Royal Highness, Dr. Alhassan Yakmut, has advocated for regular sensitisation and caution in the use of social media.
Dr. Yakmut, a former director-general of the defunct National Sports Commission, who spoke while delivering a paper titled,
“The Role of Traditional Councils in Promoting Responsible Utilisation of Social Media in the Nation,” decried the attendant challenges of the digital era, arising from the spread of misinformation, cyber-bullying, hate speech, to invasion of privacy.
Yakmut said, “Today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for communication, information sharing, and community engagement. It has revolutionised the way people interact and access information, shaping the flow of ideas across different sectors of society. However, along with the numerous benefits of social media come significant challenges which are on the rise. These challenges can destabilise social harmony and governance if left unchecked.”
He noted that despite the misuse of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp, one cannot foreclose the integral parts of modern life, particularly in developing nations through such platforms.
He also enjoined traditional councils to collaborate with government agencies, educational institutions and other stakeholders in propagating the cultural and social context of the community.