Social Media: A bane or a blessing?

Technology opens doors of opportunity to both the rich and the poor, the educated and uneducated.   Social media has been with us for years and it depends on how each perceives the use of it, positively or negatively.

Examples of social media are Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube, LinkedIn, Imo, Viber, Instagram and other instant messaging (audio and visual) apps.  Social media is almost everywhere.

Social media is only beneficial if it delivers or yields the expected results by users. It is a sensitive area and therefore, there is the need for a neutral platform to deliberate on ways of ensuring effective rules and regulations to mitigate negative situations emanating from its usage.

Past accomplishment

Nearly 20 or more years ago, our society, with little technology, could boast exceptional leaders experienced in all facets of life, and their examples were learning curves for this generation.  People were united, selfless, committed, hardworking, reliable and resilient in all endeavours.

It was not that they were not affected by prevailing socio-economic conditions or hard-pressed, but by consensus building and love for one another, they managed to adjust, getting great support from family, colleagues, church and society (social support).

We must recognise, appreciate and respect the legacy of our fathers. Building a healthy relationship requires locating the right people at the right time in spite of differences in language, lineage, tribe, society and nation. It depends on our urge to foster good relationship that creates an enabling environment for all classes of people.

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Life situations

Actually, people want to be given attention, respect and recognition, but do not reciprocate what they receive.  They do worse things, showing no empathy whatsoever, condoned by illicit behaviours as the meaning of love has eluded us.

Another factor to consider is the youth of today who are insensitive to what revolves around them.  They show little interest in family matters or issues, let alone care for their little siblings. 

They are always glued to their phones, iPads, laptops, etc.; engrossed in unprofitable or interactive conversations on social media without much education on cyber fraud, hackers, social engineering, etc., posing a danger to their health and academics.

The social media platform is sometimes full of news on violence, kidnapping, suicides, unhealthy and unsympathetic circulation of torture/killing and false reports (the list is endless) because of racial prejudice and stereotypes.

There is little communication between some parents and their children, making the latter become unresponsive to all advice at home. Rather, parents have become talkers at the workplace, market, trade shows, society and church at the expense of their homes. Responsibility is not just feelings, it goes beyond it.

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Social culture

The love for money has changed our mindset, thus socio-cultural activity is not meaningful in our societies.  Creating a culture is one of a kind that revolves around family circles, employee-employer relationship, youth camps, network groups, etc., and is strongly bonded by unity, love, oneness, feelings, support, observation, selflessness, commitment, dedication and constructive criticism. 

Quite simply, our purpose-driven lifestyles should create that passion and enthusiasm in pursuit of our mission or vision on earth.

Today, can we keep up with relationships both internally and externally?  Can we also boast of a constantly changing society that is devoid of loneliness, misunderstanding, greed/hatred, confusion, armed robbery, murder/mob justice, lawsuit, corruption, pollution, noise making, deplorable roads and galamsey?  Social media is all about social networking or connecting the right mindset and right people.

Healthy nation

Our society needs solutions agile enough to meet the shifting demands in needs and aspirations that hinge on success, unity, well-being, healing and learning processes to keep us together as one people with a common destiny.

If we have evil intentions and practices (vices) and keep to ourselves; we face setbacks, run adrift and end up with our own futile efforts, with nowhere to go in particular.

In the long run, we stall or stifle all good intentions for the people and nation’s developments. 

We should create the chemistry that is more powerful and ingrained in uprightness than a society dribbling with innocent blood, false accusations, conspiracy, bias and partisanship (decadence). Can a city feed itself when we are at one another’s throat and using misleading viral messages to create national instability?

Since 1957, newspaper proliferation on our newsstands shows the state of the nation, full of vital and authentic information to educate the populace.  The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) alone has seven newspapers to its credit: Daily Graphic, the flagship paper and its sister papers - The Mirror, Graphic Sports, Showbiz, Junior Graphic, Graphic Business and now Graphic Youth World.

GCGL collaborates with all to keep the nation informed.  There is also Graphic Online (www.graphic.com.gh) and the  digital newspaper (Graphic News App) to support businesses with advertisement, content marketing and subscription.

Journalists, writers and lecturers contribute articles and news stories in the newspapers. Other very useful publications from the Harvard Business Review, other journals, magazines and newsletters have served as very useful references in my quest for personal development.

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Education

Education is described by the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, as “a great game changer”(Daily Graphic, Friday, July 28, 2017). The mind is morbid if we do not read and apply wisdom.

As a nation, free education is the best option to help us grow. 

 I humbly appeal to the authorities that the coastal areas, especially James Town, Osu, La, Teshie and Nungua, are encouraged but strictly monitored to attend school. It is said that after so many decades, faced with land sale, litigation, communal violence/disputes, congestion, influx or migration, these places are undeveloped and some of the people have become unproductive. No change, no improvement. Please visit these areas and you will understand my grief.

On the positive side, we have social media connecting us to God. The Bible says train a child in a way that he/she should go and when he/she grows up, he will not depart from it.  We need to inculcate the word of God into our children.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.  Encourage them to read scriptures morning and evening.  The scripture also says those who win souls are wise, do that for our Lord Jesus Christ and advance God’s work.

Educating and managing people on social media and network/cyber security will have positive direct and indirect effects on our nation, bringing in employable skills, empowerment and widening the scope of responsibility.  Let the youth know what constitutes sensitive or competitive intelligence.

Explore differences, make adjustments and produce digital and dynamic future leaders who direct through brainstorming, research, discoveries, innovation and diversification. We need leaders who look through the first lens, solving multiple complex issues for effective and efficient business and national growth and stability.