Social media, bad influence on our culture – Adenuga

Founder of Adelaja Adenuga Foundation Dr. Adelaja Adeleke Adenuga says that although the coming of social media has brought about a lot of innovations in the society but regretted that it has had a bad influence on African culture and tradition.
According to him, one could actually wonder where the world is heading to as the younger generation has come up with its own way of dressing brought about by Western culture which is allien to our own culture and tradition.
“It is sad that today Nigeria and other African youths dress indecently. Indecent dress code is the exposure of one’s body to the public. Culturally, people are expected to dress well because culture has a lot to do with the way people in the society dresses.
‘’Social media may have its good aspects of increased connections between people and creation of an environment in which you can share lots of buying and selling of goods online on social media and some of them are things children should not be exposed to at their early stage of life. For example, the longer everyone spends on their phones, the less time they spend with the people that matters in their lives, their loved ones. When we have positive social interactions, our bodies release endorphins that help make us feel good’’ explained Adelaja.
In a chat with our correspondent, Dr. Adenuga who has sincere passion for the elderly’s welfare felt so concerned for the future of our culture which he sees as going into extinction.
“I am afraid of the future of our youths who would definitely be leaders of tomorrow. Most of them are involved in cultism, yahoo yahoo, use and abuse of drugs such as opium, marijuana, narcotics and involvements in other illicit acts. Some of them want to become rich overnight which is not possible.
“We need to re-orientate them so as to have a change of heart. They have to be useful to themselves, the society and the nation at large. Parents should also play their own roles to better the future of their children. The parents are not really doing enough. They need to create time to train their children.’’
On the impact of social media on culture, Adelaja explained that the impact cannot be over emphasised positing that it had a great influence on the cultural changes in the society He further stated that each and every society has a way of dressing; a dress code which is accepted by society and which shows respect to the public but regretted that In the 21st century, Nigerians as well as other African youths dress code has changed ntil the late 80s, people used to respect the traditional way of dressing; women were expected to dress modestly which included loose and long dresses. It was not allowed for a lady to show her thighs; it was considered disrespectful. Men used to dress in long trousers or shorts and cotton shirts.
‘’Indecent dressing in society is also associated with poor parenting. “Parents should be role models to their children hence they have the mandate to educate and control their children on a more sober way of dressing. Some parents themselves dress so carelessly in public such that it is hard for them to control their children when they see them dressing indecently. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home”. Indeed, charity and discipline should begin at home. Hence, decent dressing should first be practiced at home’’ he concluded.
On the way out, he wants the federal government to regulate dress codes in our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Starting to curb the children from tender age should be encouraged.