Renowned Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, voiced his concern about the state of social media in Nigeria during the 48th President’s party and his investiture as an honorary member of Abeokuta Club, Ogun State.
At the event which held on Saturday, Soyinka expressed disappointment over the degradation of social media in Nigeria, labeling it as a platform now dominated by what he referred to as “barbarians.”
In his address, he highlighted the absence of meaningful intellectual discourse, contrasting it with other societies where social media serves as a valuable platform for thoughtful discussions.
The professor lamented the tendency for disagreements to escalate into accusations, citing instances where holding a political opinion led to unwarranted labels.
Soyinka emphasized the need for a return to reasoned engagement, urging individuals to present facts for careful examination without resorting to demonization.
Moreover, he expressed his astonishment at the power-driven nature of some individuals who cannot accept electoral defeat gracefully.
Soyinka firmly stated his disengagement from social media, stating, “As far as I’m concerned, babarians have taken over social media and they have swapped the intellectual quotient which used to make and still makes social media valid in other societies.”
Quest Times further reports that despite his critique, Soyinka called upon the intellectual and creative community to play a role in rescuing the nation from the negative impact of social media.
He expressed faith in the community’s ability to counteract the decline and referred to social media in Nigeria as having been dragged “down to the lowest common denominator.”
In a related note, Soyinka appreciated the recognition from the Abeokuta Club during his induction as an honorary member.