Digital Footprints: Expert charges Edo youth on use of social media

The founder of TAPE Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. Izegbuwa Emokpae-Aderogba, advised youths in Edo State to be careful of how they use social media platforms, as they leave behind digital traces that may be hard to erase.

She made this remark during a talk-show on KUFM, which was one of the events organized by the Edo State Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs to celebrate the 2021 International Youth Day.

She encouraged parents to monitor the social behavior of their children and wards, and to remind them that the internet should be used for constructive purposes, such as researching relevant topics, reconnecting with old friends and classmates, and expanding their global network.

She said, “Even though the laws that regulate the creation of social media accounts in Nigeria are not yet finalized, parents should know that the international standard for the minimum age to open a social media account is 13 years, to comply with the Children’s Privacy Protection Act.

“Parents should enforce these rules and limit their children’s screen time. These children will grow up to be the youths of tomorrow, so the foundation is very important.”

She added, “I want to emphasize that the government is not in charge of the moral values of the children and youths, the family is. They imitate what they see, so parents should take up their responsibilities and make sure their children and wards are aware that what they post, comment, or do on the internet can have negative consequences.

As a Human Resources Professional, she stressed that employers are starting to assess the personalities of potential employees by looking at their posts on various social platforms, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, and others.

“Generation Z are now joining the workforce and they are known for their creativity and innovation, as they were born in the digital age. The downside of this is that they also reject the conventional norms of the workplace. It is important to note that they began their professional careers during the pandemic and they are used to multitasking and earning from multiple sources.

“While this is a positive trait, it has also been noticed that there has been a rise in depression (panic/anxiety attacks), suicide, cyber bullying, drug abuse, illegal activities, and lack of social skills, among others. Moreover, they are losing the skill of writing proper English, as they type and shorten words and sentences.”