Lai Mohammed Criticizes The Unregulated Use Of social Media

• Lai Mohammed opens global media and information literacy week, criticizing the unregulated use of social media
• He noted the need for individuals to be adequately equipped with enough knowledge to manage the information at their disposal.
• This is not the first time lai Mohamed has shown his disdain for the unregulated use of social media, he was one of the people involved in the 2021 Twitter ban.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday, criticized the unregulated use of social media and other digital platforms worldwide. The Minister gave his criticism during the welcome session of the global media and information literacy week organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. He noted the need for individuals to be adequately equipped with enough knowledge to manage the information at their disposal.

Mohammed said, “The theme of this year’s Global MIL week, which is ‘Nurturing Trust: A Media and Information Literacy Imperative’ is not only apt but also timely as our world and its leaders contend with the challenge of identifying what is true and what is false, in view of the use of media and information.

“As I ponder on the state of our world and the enormous challenge it faces, especially with the unregulated use of social media and other digital platforms, I see the urgent need for every person to be equipped with the ability to critically evaluate and wisely use information at their disposal.”

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Speaking further, Mohammed said, “I am optimistic that, starting from the parallel sessions which commence immediately to the last plenary session on Friday morning, contributions and questions will all be geared towards finding the linkages to building trust among our societies and individuals through the use of media and information literacy. “As I urge you all to give this your best attention, knowing that the world awaits the outcome of this global MIL week, I warmly welcome you, once again, to Nigeria. I encourage you all to discover Abuja and enjoy your stay”.

This is not the first time lai Mohamed has shown his disdain for the unregulated use of social media.  Recall that the Federal government through the same minister announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in June 2021. The Federal Government noted then that the use of the platform for subversive purposes and criminal activities, propagating fake news was the reason for the suspension of Twitter’s operation in Nigeria. The ban however lasted for 222 days leading to several economic losses.