Blaming social media for youth violence misplaces Nigeria’s real problems — Prof. Madaki

A Professor of Sociology at Bayero University Kano, Abdullahi Maikano Madaki, has downplayed the influence of social media as a primary cause of youth violence in Nigeria, insisting that deeper societal and institutional failures remain the dominant factors shaping young people’s behaviour.

In an interview with SolaceBase TV, Prof. Madaki argued that while social media is often treated as a secondary issue in public discourse, it is, in reality, a primary factor in societies where internet access is widespread, affordable and deeply integrated into daily life. However, he maintained that Nigeria’s situation is markedly different.

“Whenever social media is mentioned, many people see it as something secondary,” he said. “But for someone to use social media, there must be access, availability and affordability. These factors must be considered.”

His remarks come against the backdrop of growing global concerns over the impact of social media on minors, with some countries moving to restrict or ban underage access due to worries about cybercrime, exposure to harmful content, online exploitation and negative psychological effects.

In Spain, for instance, authorities have proposed limiting social media use to those aged 16 and above, while other nations have debated age thresholds ranging from 14 to 18 in an effort to protect children from online risks.

Madaki explained that in many of these countries, children gain access to the internet even before the age of ten, with much of their social interaction, learning and entertainment taking place online.

Read Also:NGO raises alarm over rising gender-based violence in Kano

The rise of artificial intelligence tools and multiple chat platforms has further shifted young people’s lives into cyberspace.

He said that, “Cyber space is entirely different. Anyone can access anything because it has no borders. The moment you search for something, you will see it, and that can influence behaviour.”

Despite this, the professor stressed that Nigeria does not face the same level of digital saturation.

He questioned how many Nigerian youths actually have consistent internet access or internet-enabled phones, and whether services are sufficiently available across the country.

“How many Nigerians can access the internet? How many of them have internet-enabled cell phones? Where are the services?” he asked.

Madaki warned that simply copying foreign policies by imposing blanket age-based internet bans would not address Nigeria’s core challenges.

“If Spain says nobody below a certain age should use the internet, and Nigeria says the same, we are just being unrealistic,” he said, arguing that the socio-economic contexts are fundamentally different.

He, however, acknowledged that some regulation is necessary—particularly concerning websites identified as unsafe for minors.

According to him, certain online platforms can expose youths to harmful content or criminal skills. “If there are sites that teach negative skills or criminal activities, those are the ones that should be restricted for underage users,” he said.

Madaki suggested that once such sites are clearly identified, service providers could be directed to limit access for users below a specified age.

Yet he admitted that enforcing age-based restrictions online remains technically difficult. “The internet does not have the capability to identify our real age,” he noted, adding that individuals can easily falsify their information to bypass controls.

He also observed that while cyber-related crimes are a major concern in some Western countries, many of Nigeria’s pressing youth problems manifest physically rather than digitally.

“The youths we are struggling with—those taking illicit drugs, those stealing, those involved in violence—are they doing it because of the internet?” he asked rhetorically. “Those who are unemployed and roaming the streets, is it the internet?”

Madaki maintained that youth violence in Nigeria is more closely linked to unemployment, family instability, weak institutions and poor moral upbringing than to online activity.

He urged policymakers to identify the country’s unique social realities instead of attributing complex societal problems primarily to social media.

“Our problem in African countries is largely not the internet or social media. We must go back to our societal problems—marital issues, parenting, institutional weaknesses and broader social failures,” he added.

He concluded that while digital regulation may play a supportive role, sustainable solutions to youth violence in Nigeria require addressing structural and moral foundations within families, communities and state institutions.