'Gain Or Pain,' Why You Must Be Mindful Of What You Share On WhatsApp, Facebook

‘Share, forward buttons on your phones hold the key to your digital footprints that will outlive you,’ Lecture Team Lead of Platforms, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, delivered at MAPOLY AMACOS Symposium + PHOTOS

Nigeria’s Frontline Digital Mediaprenuer, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, has advised everyone, especially the youths to become more intentional, purposeful, and mindful of information they share on digital media, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and others.

The multiple award-wining digital entrepreneur, who is the Team Lead at Platforms Africa gave this advice while delivering his paper as the Guest Lecturer at the Association of Mass Communication Students(AMACOS) symposium at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria.

Saying that the digital media platforms have become a source of power, money, and influence for some youths who are already awake to the reality, the digital media player declared that the platforms can also be a pit hole in the future for many who see them (the digital platforms) as the ground to dump unguided sentiment, misinformation and misinformation.

“Digital media is a clean sheet for you to tell stories and shape perceptions about you and what you stand for. Be mindful of what you post, share or forward as the case may be on those media because they are your digital footprints that will outlive you.

Dr. Adeola Yusuf (first left) with Dr. Wasiu Tejuoso and Dr. Sina Aina during the MAPOLY AMACOS 2025 lecture

He added that the Communication students should xheck how they could become digital media entrepreneurs, reiterating that the digital media landscape provides unprecedented platform to get power, money and influence.

Fielding questions on MAPOLY Radio 99.7 FM Ojere Abeokuta after the lecture, Adeola Yusuf said that his presence at the institution’s Department of Mass Communication evoked great nostalgic feelings and emotional connections to his alma mater, assuring Nigerian youths that more than ever before, the Digital space has made it for those who are deliberate, creative and purposeful to successfully deploy the social media to become powerful, affluent and highly influential.

Citing multiple examples of young Nigerians most of whom did not actually studied media or media-related courses but have successfully explored and deployed the digital space to become successful in the society, Dr.Yusuf cautioned Nigerian youths, especially undergraduates to avoid the trap of only consuming contents from social media without thinking of how they can also exploit the unlimited entrepreneurship benefits it offers.

Dr. Adeola Yusuf (second left); General Manager, Mapoly Radio, Deacon Kunle Oluwusi; Programmes Head, Olufemi Orunsola; and Misters of Nigeria Ogun Title Holder Bamidele Durowoju, during Yusuf’s visit to the radio station

His words, “When you are a student, make the best use of your undergraduate days. Don’t just focus on your scholarship. Discover yourself. Acquire digital skills and make deliberate efforts to leave exactly the kind of digital footprints you would like to be associated with you on everything you post or publish in the social media space.”

Making a reference to a recent Immigration policy by the United States, which requires that applicants should submit their social media handles, Dr. Yusuf emphasized that even employers of labour now go beyond reviewing the CV of applicants, but they also adjudge the suitability of a candidate for a job based on the social media database of such candidates.

The Platforms Africa Team Lead reiterated the need for trained media students who are trained on media law and ethics to summon the courage to occupy their rightful places in the scheme of affairs in Nigeria’s promising and blossoming social media space.

Earlier, in his Question and Answer session after delivering his paper on the topic: “Media Entrepreneurship: Striking the Balance Between Fun and Fecundity”, Dr.Yusuf advised young digital media entrepreneurs to be creative, consistent, resilient, and learn fast.

“Embrace your errors. Learn from them. Let your criticisms get to you, but don’t let negative comments settle into you”, he counselled.

Also speaking at the AMACOS lecture, a media scholar who is the Director, School of Communication and Information Technology, Dr. Sina Aina aligned with the reference to the Technology Determism Theory, earlier cited by Dr. Adeola Yusuf in his guest lecture, affirming that “In today’s world, tomorrow belongs to those who can effective make use of available technologies”.

He further stated that “Technology is increasing at a fast pace whereas development has no zenith”, noting that the peak technologies of yesteryears have become stale and irrelevant today.”