The Anambra State Government under Chukwuma Soludo has expressed concern over the rise of p0rnography and propaganda across social media platforms.
The Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, made the statement at the closing ceremony of a two-day Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Workshop.
The event, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Auditorium in Awka, targeted youths and youth-led organisations in South East Nigeria.
The workshop was organised by the Media and Information and Inter-cultural Dialogue (MILID) Foundation, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Anambra State Ministry of Information.
Giving his remarks, Mefor stated the rising quantity of sexuality in social media skits, noting that such type of content was changing the way people consume information on social media.
“P0rnography is redefining so much of the social media information being consumed by the people in various social media spaces thereby showcasing the kind of irresponsibility inherent in the people creating such content,” he said.
He urged content creators, especially the youth, to move away from pornography and focus on deeper societal issues.
“What MILID Foundation, UNESCO and the Ministry of Information are trying to tell you about media and information literacy is that you owe society some level of responsibility.
“It’s true that through such reckless content, you can draw traffic to your social media handles to a point that they may start paying you. Yes, money will come from it but at what cost?” he added.
Mefor said the government is concerned about the type of content being created and the way it is being spread.
“Those of us in government in Anambra State are worried about irresponsibility while creating content or putting information out there.
“We are worried about not only such contents and the recklessness of such exhibition. We are worried about propaganda.”
He also criticised the use of propaganda in politics.
“Some people say propaganda is necessary in politics. I don’t think that a government that is doing well needs propaganda. Let facts speak for themselves. We don’t believe in propaganda here.
“As the Manager-in-Chief of Information in Anambra State, what we try to do is put out the accurate data/information in every possible way, avoiding propaganda, misinformation, falsification or nuancing of information in a way that you make it look acceptable,” he said.
