HOW TO BE HUMAN; Can the Nigerian social media space truly be civil?
In a world where savage responses get more traction than civil discourse, what is the basis for expecting a more civil and human-based approach to digital dialogue?
That theory was tested, more like stretched, at today’s Social Media Week Lagos Session hosted by media lifestyle publisher, Bellanaija.
The session which was made up of star-studded panelists like hypeman and celebrity OAP, Do2Dtun, music journalist, Joey Akan, and Big Brother Naija contestant, Kaffy Kareem made a very interesting bunch.
The topic, laced with a social spin was a definite conversation starter “How To Be Human.”
Digital bullying was at the core of the conversation and empathy as a tool to abate this trend was a consistent recommendation by most of the panel members, even though their mode of addressing the behavior had different approaches.
Do2DTun’s unique style was to reprimand any unwarranted backlash with a savage response while the more calm Kaffy preferered to ignore and stay sane.
Joey Akan found that great power required some measure of responsibility and grew a conscience overtime in how he responded to the negativity that his work frequently created.
But one commonality in their collective experiences was the need to be more human in their interactions on and off the social space, because the patronage they enjoy as celebrities comes with its equal share of negativity.
The session take away was a simple one, If our humanity finds a way to shine through all the clutter of digital hate that the world churns out daily, only then can we be said to be truly human.
Only then can we be better.
