Youths have been urged to shun negative use of social media as it leads to social isolation, anxiety, depression, cyber bullying, sexuality, cybercrime, among others.
Director, King Emmanuel Progressive College (KEPROC), Lagos, Baiyewu Anthony who made the call during the graduation ceremony hosted by his school, explained that social media platforms which include Whatsapp, Facebook, Tik-tok, Twitter, YouTube, among others have negatively impacted the lives of the young ones in society.
Anthony regretted that many school children now pay more attention to the negative aspect of the social media than studying their books and doing home works given to them by their school teachers.
Some of the youth he said now see education as a scam, and therefore, are no longer interested in furthering their education.
He frowned at parents who buy android phones for their under-age children and added that such exposes them to crime and other vices.
He however, appealed to parents to monitor the activities of their children on social media and ensure they do the right thing.
Also, he stressed the need for parents and guardians to monitor the movement of their children both in and outside the school as well as watch the company they keep, adding that bad company spoils good manner.
“The impact of social media on the youth is grievous; it has eroded away morals and values from the lives of the young ones, they no longer read their books, they can spend a whole day on the internet, charting and viewing things that are detrimental to their souls, parents and guardians should wake up and ensure proper monitoring of their wards’ activities, by so doing, their negative activities will be checkmated.’’
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He also advised that parents should avoid over-pampering their children and that a good number of youths had lost their lives untimely or had missed their targets in life as a result of over-pampering by parents, especially the affluent ones.
He commended the graduating students and urged them not to lose focus on the sound, true and meaningful education which has been given them.
Additionally, he said: “We have given you all it takes to enjoy the dividends of education as a channel to attain future greatness and relevance to your environment and the various situations that may present themselves in your pilgrimage on earth.
“Education, be it of any type, basic, applied, scientific technical and technological without a very sound moral pattern as its platform is comparable to tea without sugar. Such a system of education will never taste well. It is going to be a sour commodity. It will be tasteless and worthless instead of paving a way to future greatness. It will serve as an architect and engineer of various forms of misdemeanor.
‘’Never stop learning, embrace challenges and remain true to your values and passions; you are the future leaders, innovators and change makers.’’
