Kano Commissioner For Information, Hon. Dantiye Charges Youth on Positive Use of Social Media

Kano Commissioner For Information, Hon. Dantiye Charges Youth on Positive Use of Social Media

By Ozumi Abdul

The Kano state Commissioner of Information, Honourable Haliru Baba Dantiye has called on the youth of the state to make positive and impactful use of social media.

He made the call on Tuesday during the 4th Annual Kano Social Influencers Summit (KanSIS23), tagged “A Rendezvous of Ideas” in Kano state.

According to him, the internet and social media have come to stay, but must be used positively to hold public office holders to account, and as well to impact positively on the the progress and development of the society.

Dantiye noted that the social media have its ugly side, but maintained that the positive side should be what is prioritized by the youth for the sake of self-development self-reliance and self-employment especiallly today that the economic fortune of the country is waning by every passing day.

He then commended the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), for organizing event of that nature annually keep the youth of the state abreast with social media literacy.

Also speaking at the event was the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr Yunusa Ya’u.

He said, the summit was organized mainly to interface and sensitize the youth on how to make use of social media in impacting themselves positively as well as the society.

The CITAD supremo also added that in as much as it’s essential to sensitize the youth on the positive use of social media, it is also important to caution them on how to mitigate against its negative usage.

He also added that it is paramount to reflect on how social media was used during the recently concluded general elections.

“It is important for us to reflect on how social media was used by these youth during the elections that was conducted few months ago, to know if the experience is still with us, and all that.

“I will say the social media has come to stay, look at then, for instance before you send your reports as journalists it takes time. But look at now, within minutes you already send your reports across. The editor gets the news on time, copy it, edit and do the needful. That’s what the internet and social media do for you.

“For instance, today you see married women selling thing online, advertising their product on social media. That’s another advantage of social media”, he said.

Dr Ya’u also reeled out the disadvantages of social media, to include spreading of fake news, impersonation, addiction and over reliance on social media to perform simple tasks by the youth.

Finally, he said it is important to educate the youth on the good and bad sides of social media, and how to be careful while using it.