SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE: THE POISONED CHALICE OF NIGERIA'S HUMANITY

The world as we know it is changing, as there are humans in it, ever so much as on a daily basis. Over the past decade, social network communication has significantly changed the manner in which individuals communicate and relate with one another. Social media plays a huge role in the quality and quantity of communication that we share today as humans across different spectrums and walks of life. Social media could then be a poisoned chalice in that what is supposed to be a blessing could in direct contrast be a source of curse, conflict, and burden, through its abuse or misuse, or antisocial behaviours that people are likely to peddle on those various social platforms to portray their own inadequacies, frustrations, and a lack of empathy towards people who are possibly going through the worst of times and do not need the media exposure that social media brings, hence possibly losing our humanity in the process. The paper explores this through a conceptual review with a view to addressing negative psychological implications of using social media with particular interest on how it affects the humanity of Nigerians, their approach towards themselves, others around them and developing a warped view of the world they live in. The study recommends that members of the society should channel the positive aspects of social media to the betterment, advancement, and progress of all members within our societies for a prosperous and progressive people and nation we can all be happy about.