Experts Call for Mandatory Social Media Literacy Following Reckless Stunts

By Our Correspondent

In the wake of increasingly dangerous online stunts and the rapid spread of misinformation, stakeholders are urging the Nigerian government to make social media literacy a mandatory part of the educational curriculum, warning that the country's digital space has become a "lawless frontier" .

The calls have intensified following recent incidents involving content creators Carter Efe and Peller, who were involved in the destruction of expensive vehicles for social media content. The situation was further compounded when businessman E-Money rewarded Peller with a new car, a gesture critics argue reinforces the dangerous message that destructive online behaviour leads to material rewards .

According to a prominent advocacy piece by Wale Bakare, Co-founder of the Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative, the current state of social media usage in Nigeria is unsustainable. Young Nigerians, who represent over 60 per cent of the country's social media users, are growing up in an environment where viral fame is often valued more than truth or personal safety .

Beyond physical stunts, there is a rising trend of false accusations, including fabricated rape claims, being weaponised for online sympathy and support. "These fabricated claims not only trivialise the genuine experiences of actual survivors but also undermine trust in our justice system," the article noted .

Advocates argue that the consequences of digital illiteracy extend far beyond individual misconduct. Businesses lose millions of naira annually due to misinformation campaigns, while a mental health crisis is emerging among youth who experience anxiety and depression from comparing their lives to curated, often fake, online content .

"The pressure to maintain a perfect online image leads to financial stress as people spend beyond their means to keep up appearances for social media," the report added, noting that cyberbullying has driven some victims to self-harm.

To combat this, experts are proposing the integration of social media literacy into primary, secondary, and tertiary education. The proposed curriculum would teach critical thinking to identify fake news, digital privacy, online ethics, and the psychology of social media to help users understand the real-world impact of their actions .

"A digitally literate Nigerian population would strengthen our democracy by reducing the spread of misinformation during elections," Bakare argued. "Young people would learn to use social media as a tool for education and professional networking rather than just entertainment and validation seeking" .

The implementation would require a collaborative effort between government agencies, civil society, and the private sector to provide training for workers and the general public.