Uncensored Language of Social Media News, Videos and Pictures as a Source of Insecurity in Nigeria: The Anambra State Example

Abstract

Uncensored language of the social media is a serious threat to the security and wellbeing of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular. Censorship is the art of editing and controlling the language that maybe used in the publication of any material (oral or written) for human consumption. This study investigates the dangerous effects lack of censoring the language of the social media thrusts on the security of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular, from the perspective of J. L. Austin’s 1962 Speech Acts theory. The theory sees language as an activity in the context of Performative Acts which when applied can trigger a lot of either negative or positive social action. A lot of ills have taken place and several unhealthy groups have been formed due to uncontrolled use of language in Nigeria social media space. Prior to the existence of digital appliances as the mobile phones and use of social media; anger, hate, aggression, banditry, religious bigotry, agitations and violence were comparatively low. The prevalent insecurity is caused by the untamed use of misguided, raw and unedited language and digital manipulations to trigger violence in the society. The unguarded language of uncensored information has created various restive and aggressive groups such as IPOB, Fulani Herdsmen, Militants, UnKnown Gun Men (UGM), Kidnappers, Yahoo boys, Ritualists e.t.c. that were never in existence but now unleashing mayhem and death in the society. Social media videos, pictures and news reportage can be censored through creating awareness, integrating the use of social media in the curriculum for our youths, government promulgation of rules to litigate offenders, redirecting our youths and empowering them financially among others. It is the belief of the researcher that if that had been done, the debacle at the inauguration of the Anambra State governor, H.E Prof. Chukwuma. C. Soludo could have been averted from the public domain.