The federal government is calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the credibility of social media content.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated this at a symposium on “Blogs, AI and Social Media Content Authenticity: A Hybrid Solutions Approach” held at the National Open University of Nigeria. (noun) Headquarters in Abuja.
This one-day event was co-organized by the International Institute for Media and Information Literacy, NOUN Mass Communication Department, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and UNESCO.
It was designed to address growing concerns about misinformation and credibility issues within social media, and the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping online narratives. .
Mr. Idris, represented by the Ministry’s Secretary and Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Comfort Ajiboye, reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting efforts to tackle misinformation and promote media literacy.
The Minister will explore a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing the credibility of social media content, while developing policies that balance freedom of expression with the need for fact-based and reliable information. I also explored.
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, in his address at the event, highlighted the growing influence of social media in shaping public discourse and emphasized the role of educational institutions in promoting media literacy.
Speaking on behalf of Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Chiedu Mafiana, Mr Peters stressed the importance of collaboration between academia, government and international organizations in tackling the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age.
Mr. Peters then made a personal appearance at the event to strengthen the University’s efforts to address these important media and information literacy challenges.
Attendees included media professionals, students, and government officials.
The discussion panel was moderated by Dr. Jacob Shagboa Suemo, Dean of the School of Mass Communication, Nile University, Kassim Olalere Akinletin, Deputy Director, Voice of Nigeria (VON) Digital Media, and Voice of Nigeria (VON) Digital Media. There were three panellists, including the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Kashim Olalere Akinrechin; Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean of the Graduate School of Bayes University, and Malam Abdullahi O. Haruna, a popular blogger and social media enthusiast.
Panelists represented diverse expertise in the media, engaged in lively discussions and provided insights and recommendations for increasing the credibility of content in the digital age.
They explored how blogging and AI have reshaped content creation and dissemination, and addressed the need for strategies to counter misinformation.
Among the key points raised were the role of bloggers and content creators in promoting responsible media practices, the ethical implications of AI tools in news dissemination, and strategies to ensure transparency and accountability of online platforms. etc. were included.
The symposium concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to engage in regulating and improving the quality of social media content, especially with the help of AI.
