The perils of social media
Sir: In recent years, governments across Europe have taken a firmer stance on digital consumption, urging parents to restrict screen time for toddlers, teenagers, and even young adults especially during
- By Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu
Sir: In recent years, governments across Europe have taken a firmer stance on digital consumption, urging parents to restrict screen time for toddlers, teenagers, and even young adults especially during meals, study hours, and moments of quiet reflection. This is not merely a policy preference; it is a response to a growing psychological and social crisis.
Social media platforms have become powerful forces that influence identity, behavior, and emotional stability. While they offer opportunities for connection and creativity, they also expose users especially young people to a constant stream of comparison, validation-seeking, and often destructive content.
A striking example comes from a UK-based teenager, Charlotte Divine, who recounts joining OnlyFans on her eighteenth birthday. With an already sizable following on TikTok and a flood of suggestive messages, she viewed the platform as a quick path to financial independence. At first, the rewards seemed real; thousands earned, attention multiplied, and the illusion of empowerment firmly in place. But beneath the surface lay a darker truth. The same system that promised control and success gradually eroded her mental well-being, leaving her depressed and entangled in a lifestyle she had not fully understood at the outset.
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In Nigeria, the consequences have taken even more troubling forms. Cases of manipulation, exploitation, and even violent crimes linked to online interactions have surfaced with alarming frequency. Stories circulate of young women lured through social media into dangerous situations under the guise of relationships or financial opportunities. Many have been deceived, swindled, or emotionally manipulated through constant exposure to misleading content. The endless cycle of scrolling can subtly condition the mind, fostering feelings of inadequacy, envy, anger, or greed.
Over time, this mental conditioning shapes decisions, both financial, relational, and moral.
The stakes are particularly high for women and girls. They are often the most targeted by harmful trends and exploitative systems, yet they are also powerful agents of influence within these same spaces. This dual position; as both targets and participants demand heightened awareness and responsibility. Ultimately, the way forward is not total rejection but mindful engagement. Each individual has the power to reclaim their attention, reshape their thinking, and redirect their energy toward productive ventures. The time spent consuming endless viral content can instead be invested in learning, creating, building, and supporting others in meaningful ways.
We all have a role to play in shaping the digital culture we inhabit. By choosing healthier thoughts and more purposeful actions, we not only protect ourselves but also contribute to a more conscious and compassionate world.
•Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu,
Nkono-Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
