There is no argument that technology is here to stay, especially with the combination of the internet, computers, mobile gadgets and related devices. Then there is social media, a phenomenon that is taking the world, Nigeria inclusive, by a storm – there are amazing statistics of how many Nigerians are on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google Plus, to mention a few. I have also noticed that social media has different effects and that there are different ways to use it, especially when a coordinated strategy is deployed. Let’s start by considering one positive effect of social media – when a topic goes viral.
I must confess, the things that go viral in Nigeria never cease to amaze me. In some cases, they even spread offline and become a trend in ‘real life’. In the past, events such as the Occupy Nigeria movement and the 2011 Nigerian elections have benefitted from social media. Even now, in the last few months, we have had some topics go viral which, if not for social media, may have been less popular (think about Oga at the Top, Goldie’s death and the Saka don port saga).
What is interesting though is that no matter how much speculations or predictions you have about a topic, there is no guarantee that it will go viral until you see the number of people who adopt it. Who would have thought that Oga at the Top would become a popular street slogan or inspiration for t-shirts and games? This also shows how quickly news spreads in this internet era.
From social causes to business or entertainment, social media could offer great advantages in form of free word of mouth adverts, extending to places previously unfathomed, and feedback from various sources. All one needs is a central theme that will get the attention of the public and sustain conversations. The power of social media really remains with the people who participate on the various platforms and how well they react to a specific topic.
What is your take on the effects of social media?
