Social media’s potential for empowerment underappreciated – Slimfit, Convener of Lagos Digital Summit

Social commentator and convener of Lagos Digital Summit, Adewale Adetona Akeem, better known on social media as Slimfit, has pointed out how the judicious use of social media has helped to draw attention to critical issues and catalyse positive actions towards them.

Citing an example of the recent fire in the Amazon Forest, in Brazil, Slimfit said: “ The Amazon rainforest was surprisingly aflame for two whole weeks before gaining widespread prominence through social media platforms and the attention of renowned celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonardo Di Caprio, Madonna and Lil Nas X, who have donated millions of dollars to relief organisations in a bid to quench the flames and ameliorate the effect on affected communities.”

Speaking further, he noted: “Hastags such as #PrayForTheAmazonas, #ActForTheAmazon and #AmazonRainfores trended for days on both Instagram and Twitter, thereby jolting the consciousness of the common man to the sad reality of earth’s biggest rainforest.”

According to Slimfit, in the past few years, social media has empowered millions of people and given voice to those who otherwise would have remain voiceless in society.

While emphasizing the growing importance of social media as news outlets globally, Slimfit stressed that not many people are maximizing the inherent potential of this new media as an effective means of publicity.

“We watched in March of this year how a young outspoken girl from Sapele, Delta State inadvertently turned herself into a sensation when she lamented the unfortunate circumstances that led to her being sent home for her parent’s inability to pay up her school fees.

The viral video grabbed the attention of not only the Delta State Government that meted out strict punishment on the headmistress of the school but also some prominent Nigerians that made donations to not just the girl but to the person that filmed the video,” he stated.