When is social networking a distraction?

The idea for this write up came from an encounter with a friend. We were having a very serious discussion on how we intend to enroll for our master’s programme. We were talking on the procedures needed, requirements and choice of schools, while discussing her phone buzzed with the usual sound – ping! Without excusing herself, she quickly picked it up and totally diverted her attention to it, ignoring our discussion. The funny thing is that I didn’t realise her distraction till I asked a question and I got no response, because she kept making expressions that made me think she was listening. In a loud voice, just to get her attention, I shouted her name. She jumped in shock, surprise and asked what is it? Why did you shout my name like that? I told her I had been talking to her but she didn’t respond. I went on to ask her why she would just abandon our discussion like that, and her response was”I can’t do two things at the same time.” This got me more curious and I asked her”the message you got, what is it about, is it that important?” She replied: “Yes oh! My friend just brought in new arrivals of handbags from Dubai; I need to pick mine before she sells the best ones.”
Another scenario is the recently escalated rumour on the use of salt as a cure and preventive measure against the Ebola virus. Social media served as an easy means of disseminating the rumour. I for one got the message countless times through Blackberry messenger, Whatsapp, Facebook and even calls. This information got to many Nigerians of course, and made many of them sideline the information given by authoritative health agencies such as the World Health Organisation and other health practitioners. Not even stopping to verify the rumour, my neighbour immediately performed the ritual attached to the use of salt to prevent and cure Ebola and totally refused going out for that day because according to her the rumour stated that the disease is in the air, therefore making it airborne. She dumped her activities for that day for the sake of a rumour which was disseminated to her through the social media.
The lady who started the rumour was somehow traced and she apologized, saying that she was just trying to play pranks on her friends and that she did not expect the news to go round that fast. Well, what can I say, that is the social media for you. Some people believe and have so much confidence in the social media that they believe any information they get through it. Some respondents spoken to shared their views on the subject.
Muhammed Ndagi, who is self-employed, is of the view that in relation to the two stories related above: “Fact finding is only limited to the online blogs and write-ups devoid of experimental proof. Reading culture is lost to the social networking sites other than the educational ones.” He noted that social networking creates a sedentary life-style which is not wise for obsessed people.
Although social networking has been a blessing in so many ways, it has also been a curse, says Naomi Abubakar, a 300 level student of Mass Communication at Nasarawa State University, Keffi. She opines that: “With the social media, students have become lazy and they don’t read again. In examination halls, it is now easy for them to type questions on the social network sites and get immediate answers, therefore increasing the rate of examination malpractice. Social networking has also enhanced the exposure of younger generations to porn.” These are all distractions, Naomi notes, adding that some people don’t even bother to find out if the information they get from the internet is factual or not.
Omolade Makinde says: “Social networking becomes a distraction when you get distracted from what you are supposed to be doing not minding its importance. It is when you take it to supercede every other thing, therefore neglecting other activities for it, thereby making you so obsessed over it that it becomes bad.”
With the widespread use of the social media, which aided the spread of the Ebola cure rumour, Charles Imafidon, who is self-employed, is of the view that: “Social networking is mostly used in spreading wrong information due to its wide coverage,” adding that: “Most sources of the information in the social media cannot be ascertained before broadcasting. There is no verification of information and easy transmission of wrong information. All of these take away  people’s  attention and create panic.”
A sister publication Sunday Trust, recently quoted the Catholic Herald as saying that Pope Francis told some pilgrims that: “Time is a gift from God” but like other gifts it must be used well. “Perhaps many young people waste too much time on useless things: chatting on the internet or with your mobile phone…the products of technology that should simplify and improve the quality of life, but sometimes take attention away from what is really important.”