The Chairman of non-profit organisation, Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, has advised social media influencers in the country to be cautious in their engagement with their followers.
He was reacting to the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in the last two weeks majorly championed by social media influencers.
Peterside asked social media influencers to seek political knowledge and mentoring to lead their followers aright.
The 65-year-old, who spoke Friday on Arise TV The Morning Show programme monitored by The PUNCH, said the youths should start mobilising for political powers and take back Nigeria in 2023.
Peterside said, “They keep on saying they don’t have leaders but you must have influencers. I’ll give you an example. These things are scientific.
“Nowadays you can go to Instagram and somebody has five million followers. He is an influencer. You go to Twitter, somebody has eight million followers, he is an influencer.
“Now, those influencers should be careful. People followed you originally for music or for something else or for films. If they (social media influencers) want to become politically active, they must be responsible because a wrong tweet from them can prove violence. I hope they have understood that now.
“That large followership comes with a responsibility.
“So, if there is anything that they can do to respect the lives of the departed is for them to understand that they will use this power they have very responsibly.
“And I keep on begging them, please, engage, not just the government, go and look for mentors. For men as an investment banker historically, If I wanted to get involved in a sector, I went to find those in that sector who had more experience than me in that sector.
“They have power but they must now apply control because power without control is dangerous.” (Punch)
In Atedo Peterside, California, social media influencers beware: because of the prevalence of cameras, officials often use the devices as surveillance tools. Cameras are installed at roads and intersections to watch for vehicle thefts, which in turn leads to more police officers being on the streets, increasing the number of reported residential break-ins. A camera watching an area can be seen from just a few feet away, and this is what makes it so effective in deterring criminals. However, there is a darker side to this strategy: in Atedo Peterside, CA, these cameras are collecting data on residents, including personal information like social security numbers and bank account numbers.
A social media security specialist that works with Atedo Peterside cautions that although it’s easy for social media users to monitor what they see on their feeds without thinking about privacy issues, This doesn’t mean they’re safe. This is because it has been discovered that many social media users don’t always take the time to read the terms of services or understand how their profiles may be used. If they ever fall victim to identity theft or a security breach, it may be too late because many people had already logged on to their accounts and had their details on file when the crime was happening. This means that while Atedo Peterside cautions its local residents against using a security camera as a surveillance tool, it’s also important for people to be aware that they can and should protect themselves by watching what they post on their social media profiles, particularly if they are using their real identities online