Thread: Social media can be a channel of public info today. But it’s most important uses lie elsewhere.1: it’s a virtual NETWORK that connects people. 2: it’s a platform for our streams of consciousness, where we pour out our inner thoughts. 3: it’s a social INFLUENCE platform.
4. It’s a platform for political influence. But this is far more the case in developed countries than in under-developed ones because of the comparative levels of literacy and enlightenment. And even then more so with Facebook than Twitter. Social media has very little political
impact on influencing voters or votes in a country like Nigeria, but can be helpful in creating awareness or a political brand, especially among young people. But Facebook helped Donald Trump win America’s presidency in 2016. This is why I am often amused when some mistakenly
think my tweets are to seek their “political” support. Wrong. I tweet as a CITIZEN with a right to express my views, though of course I know my views have some influence. Anyone looking for electoral votes should know where to look for them. Not on Nigerian social media.
Whether this will change in future remains to be seen. If, for example, Nigerian youth decide to become a decisive political force in our country, then SM could become a real platform for mobilization.For now, it’s mainly a platform for entertainment and social networks for many.
5. Social media today is a tool for Thought Leadership for those interested in knowledge and ideas presented in simple, bite sizes. This is the main function social media serves for me: to educate, and also to be educated by others whose knowledge and insights can add value.
SM also serves for me as a stream of consciousness (point #2). Sometimes our musings are cathartic because we have let our thoughts or feelings, and we may also appreciate and empathize with the musings of others. As Sir Phillip Sidney wrote in the poem “Astrophil and Stella”,
‘Thus great with child to speak and helpless in my throes,
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,
"Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write."/ #Ends
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