Cybersecurity and Technology Expert, Jerome Geraldo, has called for a nationwide public education campaign on the responsible and ethical use of mobile phones and social media.
His call follows the recent circulation of intimate videos on social media, allegedly involving some influencers, private individuals and a police officer, among others.
Speaking to Adom News, Mr Geraldo said the rapid advancement of technology and widespread access to smartphones had not been matched by adequate education on digital responsibility.
“We have a situation where young people have access to very sophisticated phones and technology, but unfortunately, the education on how to use these technologies responsibly has not caught up with the technology itself.”
He said many young people remain unaware of the risks associated with their online activities and need to understand the permanent digital footprints they leave behind.
“People need to understand that the internet is a place where you leave a footprint. Any site you visit, any activity you engage in online, can leave a trace. You cannot assume that because you are using the internet privately, nobody can trace what you are doing.”
Mr Geraldo also expressed concern about the increasing trend of young people sharing revealing content online in a bid to attract attention, likes and followers.
“We are seeing young people, especially some senior high school students, putting out revealing content on social media because they want attention, likes and followers. They need to understand that what they put online today can have consequences for them tomorrow.”
He further cautioned users against assuming that sensitive images and videos sent using features such as “view once” are completely secure.
“People should stop thinking that ‘view once’ means the content is completely safe. There is nothing like absolute privacy once you send sensitive content to another person. Someone can simply use another phone to record what is displayed on their screen.”
According to him, users must carefully consider the consequences before sharing intimate or sensitive content digitally because they may lose control over it once it leaves their devices.
“From today, people should be very careful about sending intimate pictures or videos, even when they believe they are protected by features such as ‘view once’. Once you send it, you are giving somebody else access to that content, and you cannot control what they do with it afterwards.”
Mr Geraldo is therefore advocating comprehensive digital literacy education across the country, particularly for young people, to equip citizens with the knowledge required to use smartphones and social media safely, ethically and responsibly.
“We need a nationwide education campaign on digital responsibility. It is not enough to give people smartphones and internet access. We must also teach them how to use these technologies ethically, safely and responsibly.”
