Why social media must be regulated – Femi Gbajabiamila

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila says social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

 

Femi Gbajabiamila, while representing President Bola Tinubu at the launch of a book written by Babatunde Fashola, former minister of works, on Thursday in Lagos, stressed the importance of accurate information in policy formulation and national development.

 

He warned against the danger of using social media in the dissemination of wrong information which has almost torn the country apart, stressing the need to regularize the framework of news dissemination on social media to avoid mis-information in the country.

 

Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of data in policy formulation for the growth of the country, stating that no developing country can succeed without adequate and well-informed data.

 

He said his administration has an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussions and data-reliant decision-making, hence the need for accurate data that will be used for better policy formulation and execution.

 

“The social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

 

“As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world which is capable of causing a great danger not just in the society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life.

 

“As citizens become more interested in governance, it is the government’s obligation to ensure that engagement with citizens springs with shared agreement on what the truth is, what is real and what is not,” he said.