If We Dont Control Social Media We Will Get Endangered –- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown its weight behind the move
to regulate the use of social media in the country, affirming that
it is too dangerous to allow it the way it is.

Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media &
Publicity, Garba Shehu, who made the position known. warned that
leaving the social media to operate without regulation could result
in more lawlessness, violence and deaths, explaining that the
Federal Government is not against free speech.

According to Presidency statement issued on Monday by Attah Esa,
Deputy Director, Information, the Presidential aide, spoke at the
Kawararafa Media Award in Abuja on Sunday, noting however that the
emerging modern media platform had played a strong role in
promoting information sharing, strengthening democracy, and
building networks of relationships, but without supervision or
control, the nation risks more havoc.

The statement informed that Shehu was chairman of the award
ceremony organised by Kwararafa Reporters, a news magazine.

The statement quoted him as saying: “For instance, the entire
Kasuwan Magani saga that resulted in the death of more than 50
people was because someone posted misleading information on
WhatsApp that went viral.

“All countries in the world are trying to make laws to check the
excesses. Many countries are trying to control the situation. The
Europeans have placed a new law that holds the companies
responsible.

“In United Kingdom, the parliament has received a report on
social media. There is a youth addiction to it, just like
cigarettes. Without any form of control, it has done harm to women,
ethnic minorities, individuals, institutions and countries.”

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