Mali: Social media addiction threatens the social fabric

Written by: Ayman Ragab

Social media has become an integral part of the daily lives of citizens in Mali, and although it facilitates communication, it also has harmful effects.

Today, thanks to modern technologies, we can communicate with almost anyone from anywhere. Student Habib Minkaila Maiga believes that thanks to social media, he has learned a lot about his work.

He says: “It is difficult to do without the phone because it has become an integral part of our lives. We cannot go a week without communicating with our families, so the phone has become an indispensable tool.“.

Easy communication with friends

Fatoumata Diarra is a student at the Higher School of Journalism and Communication Sciences. She says: ”I mainly use TikTok, WhatsApp and Facebook apps, and I spend about three hours a day communicating with my loved ones… What attracts me to these platforms is the possibility of staying in touch with my friends and family.“.

She explains, ”Social media has changed the way I communicate, stay informed, and talk to my loved ones in real time.“.

According to Dr. Adama Traoré, a teacher and researcher, ”The use of social media has turned many things upside down… It is now easier to communicate with someone remotely than with someone close by, and this also means that children are very distracted and find it difficult to concentrate on their schoolwork,“ according to le 360.

This situation largely explains the reason for the “fracture of the social fabric”. .

In response to this situation, Dr. Traorén suggests “programming certain standards into phones to prevent children from using social media networks that are deemed inappropriate for minors.“.

Misinformation

According to the president of the “Abel Mali” organization, ”The reliance on social media is evident thanks to the ease of access to mobile phones and the connectivity that facilitated communication, as well as the spread of digital tools.“.

This journalist believes that "one of the downsides of social media is misinformation.".

Modibo Fofana believes that “the spread of misinformation has worsened with the emergence of digital technology and social media.“.