BISHOP OKOYE SPIRITAN SECONDARY SCHOOL (BOSSS), has organized a seminar for her students, titled: The Effects Of Social Media. This was to familiarise her students with the Pros and Cons of social media. The principal, Fr. Jude Ekemgba C.S.Sp., in his opening remark emphasized that everything in life requires responsibility, and social media is no exception. And beckoned on the students to participate actively in the seminar.

The guest speaker, Mr. Emmanuel Nworie, held the students’ attention during an interactive session. He described social media as Platforms with User-Generated Content; meaning that users are responsible for the posts that appear on their timelines or pages.

He continued by outlining the pros and cons of social media. In an articulated approach, he stressed that social media assists students in their various research or study on any subject/Issue, and in staying in touch with friends and family.

He, however, lamented that if social media is misused, it can in turn lead to addictions and result in health problems like obesity, loneliness, and even suicidal thoughts. He further admonished the students against disclosing too much personal information on social media as it is a dangerous place for such acts.

The speaker while concluding his seminar continued to admonish and educate the students on the abuse of the social media. He urged them to make the most of it by using it to advance their academic goals and to avoid doing anything that would endanger their life or their education.

Nevertheless, several students responded to the seminar by sharing their online experiences. Merz Zikora Leona described how she spent the entire night on social media, neglecting to do her homework, and was unable to concentrate in class the next day, due to the Weak and Dizzy feeling that ensued. She expressed her happiness at discovering during the seminar that using social media in moderation is the key.

In the same vein, Okon Chiagoziem Gabriella described how she rarely read books like her siblings did instead preferred to play games and chat with friends on social media. She added that she made an unsatisfactory result at the end of the term, embarrassing both herself and her parents. She took the appropriate action, spent time studying, and her efforts were rewarded.

Odon Fammaoua on the same note, while sharing her experience said that she typically utilized social media to send her assignment to her teacher, who lived miles away, when she had to write her entrance exam. She will receive a repost after the teacher accessed it, graded her works on it, and comments. She claimed that by using social media, she was able to pass her entrance exam.

At the vote of thanks, Vice Principal II, Rev. Fr. Vincent Ibeh, C.S.Sp., expressed gratitude to the guest speaker for coming to enlighten the students. He also expressed his gratitude to the members of Staff and the students who graced the seminar.

He urged the students to make the most use of the seminar and stay away from mistakes that would haunt them all their life. He urged them to exercise responsibility and caution when selecting online friends and groups to follow because they cannot completely separate themselves from these choices.

Organizing seminars that are both educational and interesting is part of BOSSS commitment to raising and educating our children for the common good; students who are going to make significant contributions to the development of society and become historical icons.