From the very first day of the year, it’s been a deluge of social media subs, shades, call outs, celebrity tweets, slander, name calling, allegations and accusations, outrage, put-down, defamation, bad-mouthing, hash tags and everything in between! Every day one wakes up to a new drama series, and just when you think it’s over a more stupefying, nerve-wrecking and mind blowing episode springs up like a bolt out of the blues.
First on the row were two famous artiste and music producers slugging it out over an award. Soon to be followed by another music artiste with his baby mama. The drama was so intriguing that an infant without a Twitter account was trending when Twitter account holders of many years standing…or perhaps tweeting… have never trended for a split second!
Another one sprang up with the tale that songs long released by some artiste who are his friends were stolen from him. One wonders why he could not contact them directly via phone or email but resorted to a public proclamation on social media! Yet another invented a new way of ending a relationship…by Tweeting!
Another found Instagram the most suitable forum to address her colleague whom she thought was embarrassing the female folk in their industry.
While we were still getting over these early year punchers from artistes and about to heave a sigh of relief…we had not fully uttered the statement “what a year” when several bouts of relationship issues were premiered as a theatrical spectacle for gist loving Nigerians who are highly elated at these free comical shows which helps relief boredom and abate the economic and political aggression.
Just when I thought I have heard it all, my attention was drawn to another very messy and distasteful saga today that got my jaw dropping to my waist line! For the first time I took out time to read through the comments after seeing the captions of the post and I couldn’t help but shudder at what has become of social media in some quarters. It is heart-wrenching!
Some have asserted that these are concerted and deliberate popularity stunt being pulled off in certain instances.
Whatever the case may be, it definitely leaves a sour taste in the mouth as people get laundered with insult like they were literally put in the washer to spin and dry! People’s respect, dignity, ego and self worth have been trashed and trampled upon like a caterpillar running over rotten mangoes! Like a ventriloquist, juveniles have sought refuge behind the curtains of the puppet, social media, to take a swipe and run their mouths over adults they would otherwise never have access to.
Beyond the humorous and engrossing effect of these cyber wars, it whips up a lot of repulsive and undesirable sentiments as you would find tonnes of comments trailing such spiteful post. If only people showed this level of interest in inspiring or scriptural post, Nigeria would be a better place!
And of course the gossip blogs are not left out of the orgy…they would have a field day munching and reposting the all the horrid posts and tweets. Then you will find people who have no relationship or business whatsoever with the central characters crying more than the bereaved and engaging one another in vicious verbal attacks…but for distance, they would probably be exchanging blows!
Should we go on like this? What are we teaching our children who are fast catching up with the social media bug? Tell you what, the kind of bitterness and venom I see expressed by just the “followers” in these situations, given a chance some would actually pull the trigger or pull a knife considering the height of animosity and resentment ingrained in their comments and reactions if they ever have a physical encounter! Perhaps those of us who are adults can exercise restraint and leave our antagonism in the comment box only. How about the younger ones observing these trends who would not be satisfied with just a cyber war and may want to advance to a physical one?
My Point? It’s about time we curb this hydra-headed dragon of a menace we are breeding real quick before it degenerates to something we all can’t handle! There are more cerebral and refined way of resolving conflicts while the social media can be put to more productive use.
While celebrity rifts may be exciting to read about and laughing at other people’s misery could be intriguing, do remember that the economic forecast of the year is quite gloomy and we all need to get really productive to buffer the effect of this ongoing financial impasse. Why not spend your time on the social media wisely. Rather than fanning the ignited flame of celebrity feuds which would eventually be settled at one party or the other where you won’t even be privileged to attend, spend your time and make your own money so that you can be relevant enough for recognition too. These guys have made their money…go and work for your own!!! Taking sides with them and cursing people out on social media will not make them recognize or love you!
These people will stop posting all these things if no one gives them attention. They are bringing every single mundane issue online now because they know people will comment and help fuel the fire of their controversies. Let us not allow ourselves to be used…Let’s not aid and abet this ugly trend of calling people out to swipe them in public. Let’s not encourage hateful cyber war. Let’s not become a tool for vengeful strife and dissension. STOP THE HATE COMMENTS AND SEE THE TREND DIE DOWN! It’s fun to laugh and comment now because it affects other people, but one day, E FIT BE YOU OOOOO. What goes around, comes around!
So whenever you are online and you see a hateful post and you are tempted to comment, remind yourself of the fact that you can spend that time and data more profitably. Spend your time on the internet to:
1. Promote your brand
2. Source for new ideas
3. Network and develop contact rather than create enemies for yourself, remembering the fact that your network determines your net worth!
4. Tell and share positive and inspiring messages and stories.
5. Create new relationships and strengthen existing ones.
6. Fight a cause like Child Abuse or Rape and impact the society.
7. Bring the World closer to you and learn about global trends
8. Connect with Business or Employment Opportunities.
9. Seek Income and Sales Opportunities
10. Give and get accurate news and information, faster and easier.
Let’s all do our part to stop the cyber war or at least not encourage them with our comments and tags…let’s put our hard earned data to good use and lead a stress free and more worthwhile and gratifying life. My two cents!
I am a Speaker, Writer, Coach and Entrepreneurship Advocate. I own an Online Radio Station, Iaspire Radio, Nigeria’s first Motivational Radio Station; www.iaspireradio.com and a Motivational & Inspirational Blog; www.iaspireblog.com.
