Amosun, Ibidapo-Obe want social media operation regulated

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and a former
Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, have
called for the establishment of an agency that will vet the
information meant for the social media before they are released for
public consumption.

They advocated this on Wednesday at the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library, Abeokuta, during the first anniversary
lecture of the Penpushing, a social media platform founded by a
veteran journalist, Dimeji Kayode – Adedeji.

Both Amosun and Ibidapo-Obe agreed that the social media had its
advantages, they, however, noted that the platform had also been
subjected to abuse and misuse by unscrupulous people to settle
scores, damage reputation of individuals and organisations.

The governor, who was represented by the state’s Chief of Staff,
Chief Tolu Odebiyi, likened the social media to a “weapon of mass
destruction,” adding if left unchecked, it could wreck far-reaching
damage on the society, community, organisations and a nation.

The governor urged the users of the social media, particularly
the youths, to enhance self development, foster harmony, and unity,
as opposed to using it for negative purposes.

Ibidapo-Obe said the social media had come to stay and there was
nothing that could be done until something else replaced it.

He also called for a purgatory where all information would be
tested, purged and sieved for authenticity, accuracy and truth,
before being circulated.

He noted that the social media should be free of ‘cut and paste’
messages whose veracity and authenticity had not been
confirmed.

The chairman on the occasion, Prof. Idowu Sobowale, said the
social media had become a major source of information but also
lamented that some people had taken to the platform to settle
scores.

Sobowale noted that the advantages of the social media far
outweighed its disadvantages.

He argued that the platform had helped to unearth societal ills,
fight corruption and injustices.

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and a former
Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, have
called for the establishment of an agency that will vet the
information meant for the social media before they are released for
public consumption.

They advocated this on Wednesday at the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library, Abeokuta, during the first anniversary
lecture of the Penpushing, a social media platform founded by a
veteran journalist, Dimeji Kayode – Adedeji.

Both Amosun and Ibidapo-Obe agreed that the social media had its
advantages, they, however, noted that the platform had also been
subjected to abuse and misuse by unscrupulous people to settle
scores, damage reputation of individuals and organisations.

The governor, who was represented by the state’s Chief of Staff,
Chief Tolu Odebiyi, likened the social media to a “weapon of mass
destruction,” adding if left unchecked, it could wreck far-reaching
damage on the society, community, organisations and a nation.

The governor urged the users of the social media, particularly
the youths, to enhance self development, foster harmony, and unity,
as opposed to using it for negative purposes.

Ibidapo-Obe said the social media had come to stay and there was
nothing that could be done until something else replaced it.

He also called for a purgatory where all information would be
tested, purged and sieved for authenticity, accuracy and truth,
before being circulated.

He noted that the social media should be free of ‘cut and paste’
messages whose veracity and authenticity had not been
confirmed.

The chairman on the occasion, Prof. Idowu Sobowale, said the
social media had become a major source of information but also
lamented that some people had taken to the platform to settle
scores.

Sobowale noted that the advantages of the social media far
outweighed its disadvantages.

He argued that the platform had helped to unearth societal ills,
fight corruption and injustices.