Youth should use social media more constructively

Editor, The world has become a tiny digital village today through the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. One trend that should be deplored is how some young people have taken to misusing these otherwise important platforms.

Monday, September 29, 2014
IPRC Kigali Architectural engineering students in a computer laboratory. (File)

Editor,

The world has become a tiny digital village today through the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. One trend that should be deplored is how some young people have taken to misusing these otherwise important platforms.

Most young people take for granted the public investments that have been made to ensure access to fast internet and some have taken to abusing it. Others just take it as an entertainment tool for, say, chatting with friends, or a platform through which to settle personal scores.

It is not surprising to get young people visiting sites with uncensored and explicit content like pornography, movies on crime and music in pursuit of entertainment.

This abuse of social media platforms is one of the factors that have diverted our youth’s attention from constructively engaging in activities of nation building.

Luckily, the Government of Rwanda has also realised the role that social media plays in promoting good governance and service delivery.

This is why public institutions and the President himself have made social media a dependable tool to constantly stay in touch with the people they serve.

This is a good example that is being set by the country’s leadership, one that should be emulated by the youth, to ensure that social media are used for a good reason.

First, they can easily realise what the government has in store for them; for instance, the business reforms at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) designed to make the business atmosphere conducive.

Also vital to young people’s social media venture is advice from important personalities in the country like the President and other leaders who strive to better people’s lives through hard work.

Barack