The African Youth and Adolescents’ Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN) in Ghana is urging the public to insist on truth and accuracy in news especially on social media.
Through a movie screening last week, it highlighted the importance of accuracy on social media for the development of the country especially its youth.
A leading member of AfriYAN, Francis Oko Armah, said “this program was organized to bring out the positive side of social media especially because the use of smartphones and social media has now become part of our lives. How are we able to check that the information we put out there is accurate? As young people we need to use social media wisely, insist on truth, so that it can impart our lives and that of our peers positively.”
He further indicated that the organization will intensify its campaign on accurate information and effective social media use in Zongo and other small communities like schools and colleges where the spread of rumors and misinformation is quite prevalent.
Meanwhile, some participants in the program expressed excitement over the knowledge shared from the event.
“The program has given young people the opportunity to come together to discuss the necessary issues that happen in our communities. It has also help us to know the consequences of our actions in the use of social media. From now I will question everything I hear or see on social media and I will also pass the knowledge to my peers and others,” said Francisca, a participant.
The organizers of the program, AfriYAN Ghana, and its partners are calling on other youth development focused organizations and those interested in mental health issues to come onboard to support the campaign against false information in society.
