By David Onwuchekwa
The use of the Android phones was introduced into Nigerian communication system in 2009 while the wide-spread adoption occurred between 2010 and 2011 as it came with a whole lot of reliefs and ease of communication.
But the abuse of the phenomenon especially by youths in Nigeria has become a growing concern with multifaceted implications ranging from social, educational, psychological to even moral.
Today, many young Nigerians spend excessive time on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) using them for various purposes to satisfy their communication needs.
While social media can be informative and entertaining, overuse has led to poor academic performance as students no longer give full attention to their academic textbooks and other materials. There is a reduction in face-to-face interaction, social skills and unrealistic lifestyle comparisons, leading to depression and low self-esteem.
Android phones have become tools for cybercrime (Yahoo Yahoo) in the country. Some youths now engage in online scams, fraud, and even ritualistic activities, driven by the pressure to get rich quickly.
This phenomenon has in no small measure contributed to moral decay, a negative image of Nigerian youths internationally and increased scrutiny from foreign digital platforms and governments.
With unrestricted access to the Internet, many youths are exposed to explicit content, which can distort their understanding of sex and relationships, lead to addiction or deviant behavior and contribute to early exposure and experimentation.
There is a remarkable decline in academic focus due to the use of the Android phones. Instead of using phones for research or educational purposes, many students prioritize entertainment, such as gaming, chatting, and watching videos, which reduce concentration and time for study.
It is a common sight today to see the youths pressing their phones while walking on the streets without minding the risk factor which may come in form of accidents and other unforeseen circumstances. This is too bad.
It is important to state here that overuse of Android phones contributes to eye strain and poor vision, insomnia due to late-night screen exposure and poor posture and related physical issues, according to medical experts.
To address this situation, however, there is urgent need for digital literacy and responsible use of Android phones and even other Internet-related communication gadgets campaigns.
Government, schools, and Non Governmental Organizations should make it a point of duty and go into collaboration with other stakeholders to educate the youths on responsible phone usage, Internet safety, and the long-term implications of digital footprints.
Parents and guardians should be actively involved in their children’s phone usage, setting limits, using parental controls, and engaging in regular conversations about online behavior.
Schools can enforce stricter rules about phone use during academic hours and encourage the use of educational apps and resources.
Instead of banning phones, programmes should be introduced to teach youths how to use them for learning coding, digital marketing, and graphic design. They should be taught how to access free online courses to satisfy their academic quest.
The youths should know how to create content responsibly on YouTube or blogs with the Android phones.
Religious and community leaders can play a role in promoting ethical behavior, self-control, and contentment, countering peer pressure and the get-rich-quick mentality among the young people.
Government on its own part should enforce stricter cybercrime laws and collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders to monitor and shut down abusive digital activities.
A careful application of these measures would certainly control the abuse of Android phones usage by the youths as the major segment of the population affected.
