The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced its plans to engage with major digital platforms like Google, YouTube, and TikTok to regulate social media usage in Nigeria. Francisca Aiyetan, Director of Broadcast Monitoring at NBC, expressed concerns about the misuse of social media, particularly its potential to mislead young Nigerians. The commission is in discussions with stakeholders to determine the need for social media regulation, including the possibility of legislative changes.
Aiyetan emphasized the importance of strengthening existing laws to address new developments in the broadcasting and content sharing space. NBC's approach involves collaborating with platform owners, such as Google, YouTube, and TikTok, to address content that is deemed "threatening and injurious to our people." She noted that similar efforts are underway in other countries and highlighted the need for international regulation of social media.
Balarabe Ilelah, the Director-General of NBC, has previously referred to the challenges of social media as a "monster." On Tuesday, the commission announced that a bill for social media regulation had been sent to the national assembly.
The NBC's initiative reflects a broader global trend of governments and regulatory bodies seeking to address concerns related to social media and its impact on society.
