By Douglas Ogbankwa
The Nigeria Social Media is perhaps one of the most vibrant in the world. In its vibrancy lies its fickleness as there are many dimensions of the Social media as follows :
1.The E-Rats:There are some Nigerians whose only means of livelihood is posting on the Internet. They come under the clog of loving the country or loving the State, but they love only themselves .They are paid goons that some times lie about people. They even include some sixty some thing year old, who are grandfathers, but choose to be electronic rats ,oh sorry rabbits at their age, because of money .
2.The Crowd Funding Thieves and their Accomplices:There is a new trend of females in Nigeria concocting lies online real time , with the aid of some Accomplices in the media to deceive people abroad to collect hard currencies, in crowd funding ponzi schemes .They use a real life story , change the plot and the narrative that they manipulate to get cheap sympathy from unsuspecting members of the public, with the aim of getting money from them.Some times , there are issues with the sharing formula.In between the fraud of fleecing the Social media mob using the heard mentality, some times the female involved uses sex as a weapon to control the males ,selling her fake news .Some times , it is done in such a seamless manner that all the males get their share and they do not feel jealous as it is made to look like together in God’s Family. All for one , one for all , just like the French Musketeers. They will make the story look like a noble cause and involve lawyers and even some times security agencies .If you try to bring out the truth, the media will fight you and tag you some thing else .
3.Do not believe every thing you See and hear in the social media:There are very wicked people in this country, who are masters and mistresses of lie ,so they lie so seamlessly. If they greeted good morning , you may have to check the time , it could be a lie .Some one once told me that when a lie is said repeatedly, it becomes the truth. There is a huge manipulation of opinions going on in this country. It is like organised crime .So you have to be wary before you forward that video or article, else you may just be forwarding yourself to prison .Post only what you can prove and maintain on your pages ,what you can ascertain .Before you post, ask yourself this question, “If this case got to court can I defend it?”
4.The Paid Agent: When you see two influencers fighting over a brand or a Very Important Person (VIP),for and against ,be careful how you are caught in the middle. The fight is actually a full time job , as they are both paid to dirty and launder the brand or person respectively. All those brand ambassadors are also brand defenders. Those who call out a brand are mostly paid to do so ..The Competitors of the Brand pay heavily to bring a brand down .Things are not always the way they seem in Nigeria. Understand the country you live in , else you will be a pun in a complex game of chess .Do not join a fight that no one invited you into .Invitation to these folks presupposes alert. They may just be using you and you might not know .
4. Cyber Crimes :Make no mistake about this ,Nigeria has a very huge legal regime regulating cyber crimes and false information online and the people who run foul of same , know the Law , but they take the risk ,because of the money involved .They know what will happen, that they may be arrested for cyber stalking and cyber bullying. In fact many of them have been arrested before .So , forget the story about oppression by the Police .Every case investigated by the Police has a complainant .You do not expect some one to destroy a person or a brand online and the person who has laboured many years to build same , to be left as he is alleged .The public view and attention on an arrest on an alleged cyber stalker or bully , is part of the traction of clearing the name of the victim .Every one or brand has an image to protect .If the person can prove the alleged false information, then you go and prove it. Being popular on social media is not an immunity against prosecution or that you are above the Law .In fact , it is a burden .Be careful!Do not defame people online or the long arms of the Law will catch up with you.
About the Author: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq, a Lawyer ,Writer and Policy Analyst is the Founder of Social Media Influencers.
