We have always heard stories that make us believe that the social media is a wrong place for any serious minded person to be. I don’t blame us because of the recent stories of death and kidnappings as a result of social media connections. But we all know that bad news spreads faster than good news.
The Social media have done a lot of good to humanity. Don’t get me wrong; there will always be people who use something good the wrong way. I know that employers like me are complaining because of low productivity as a result of time spent by employees on social media. About a month ago, I walked into the hospital for my annual comprehensive test. I was first sent to a nurse for my BP to be checked. I was shocked to see a nurse who should be completely focused while taking the reading, fix her eyes on Blackberry and pinging as my BP reads. People now chat even from meeting rooms hence the low productivity at work.
Does the wrong use and abuse of the social media make it evil? I know some people have come out to tell us that the social media is anti-Christ. We say all these and focus just on the bad side of it without remembering the good side.
People have met and gotten married through the social media. I have attended wedding ceremonies of couples who met on the social media. Great businesses and organizations have been created as a result of social media interactions. People have gained employments courtesy the social media. Old school friends are now in contact with each other just because of the social media. In fact, the world is now a small community; thanks to the social media.
What about elections and campaigns? President Obama won his first term with great thanks to the social media. Our own President Goodluck Jonathan also made good use of the social media in his campaign even though he abandoned us the very moment he got into power. We have people criticizing and building the image of their governor and leaders through the social media. I can say that the government is now closer to the people and better in touch with reality (though they act like they are not) because their special advisers are part of the social media.
A lot of groups now exist, especially on Facebook. Some of them are there to discuss everything filthy and vulgar. But there are some that are interested in discussing issues that are beneficial to humanity. I belong to some great groups on Facebook where we discuss politics, religion, relationship and marriage, gender equality, education, and health.
One thing I find interesting about these groups is that they are now moving out of Facebook to do something positive for humanity. I am one person who doesn’t believe in too much talk with little or no action. A group, Real Thoughts, which was initiated by me in 2010, has done so well when it comes to touching lives. We have paid in money into some accounts even without us knowing those involved. A boy with a hole in the heart got some good donation from this very group for surgery. We have helped people who are not even members to pay school fees. A widow, who recently cried to us, had her tears wiped away when we gave her money to revive her bread making business again.
This same group is finally being registered with the CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) as a charity organization for African children. Come February 2013, we are embarking on some life changing projects that will make our children from very poor homes to smile again. Our website, www.realthoughtsinitiative.org , speaks more about us.
We are not just about charity, this same group is one of the few where people come and open up to us without fear of criticism and rejection. We look at issues bothering our members in the area of relationship and marriages and suggest solutions to them. We have received uncountable number of testimonies of what God is doing through this very group. It is really amazing to have people of different cultures and backgrounds come together for one goal. Just last week, we came together for our end of year gathering and it was fun all the way as we partied and planned for the year, 2013.
Am I saying all these to blow our own trumpet? Certainly no; we are just one of the numerous groups making good use of the social media and doing something positive for humanity. I know of a group headed by my good friend, Jenny Okafor. This very group is out to speak and see an end to domestic violence and abuse of women. We, in this group, have gone ahead to secure signatures form women and men all over the world speaking against domestic violence.
What then are you doing with your time on the social media? I have done very short articles that ministered to souls with some good and touching feedback from my friends. I now run a monthly teaching and discussion program for singles somewhere in Ikeja; thanks to social media.
Your time on Facebook is not for men to see how beautiful you are or for you to be looking for the next person to defraud with your fake profile pictures. Put an end to those vulgar words you post because they say so much about you. I don’t believe in people creating groups just because their friends own one. I don’t believe in people just talking endlessly on the internet with no intention of doing something positive for humanity.
We can correct so many anomalies in our society through the social media. We can educate people and get them to better understand their environment and what governance should be. We can make good use of the social media as 2015 draws near. We should not allow them deceive us into voting wrongly come 2015.
Creating groups shouldn’t be for people to just discuss endlessly without taking a step towards solution. Don’t create groups just because others did. Take it outside of the social media and use what you have started for the good of humanity. Think of that change you want to see in any area of life. Think of that change you want to see in the way politics is practiced in our country. Think of the recent invasion of the pulpit by people who are more after their belly than after souls and God. Think about the number of relationships and marriages being destroyed on daily basis. Think about those teenagers out there with no sense of direction. Think about the elderly and sick with no access to good health. Think about all these and bring about the revolution you want to see.
You can use the social media to change people’s impression about Nigerians. I have fans from America, Europe, and different parts of Africa and with the messages I get from them, I am sure that they have seen that we are not entirely bad.
Martin Luther did it without the social media; we can do better in our time. Be the change you want to see.
Source: Amara Blessing
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