Veronica Ezeh, a prominent mental health advocate and Chief Executive Officer of Adicare Rehabilitation Home, has urged parents to take a proactive role in regulating their children’s social media usage. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she highlighted the significant role social media plays in exposing children to potential dangers and harmful content, which can lead to social vices and criminal behavior.
Ezeh pointed out that unlike in the past, children no longer need to leave their homes to engage in negative activities. The internet provides a platform where they can easily participate in illicit behaviors without their parents’ knowledge. As a result, she emphasized the need for parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities, including monitoring the content they consume and the platforms they visit.
She further advised parents, particularly fathers, to spend more quality time with their children, advocating for weekly family bonding sessions. This time, she believes, will help strengthen familial relationships and provide an opportunity for better communication, which is essential for addressing mental health challenges. Ezeh expressed concern that many parents focus excessively on their careers and financial goals, neglecting the emotional and developmental needs of their children in the digital age.
In addition to parental responsibility, Ezeh criticized the entertainment industry for contributing to the rise in anti-social behavior among youth. She noted that many youth role models in the music and entertainment sectors openly promote unhealthy behaviors, such as drug use, inappropriate clothing, and sexualized lifestyles, which can mislead young fans. According to Ezeh, this influence often leads youth to emulate harmful behaviors, which can result in mental health issues.
Ezeh called on the government to play a more active role in regulating the content produced by the entertainment industry, advocating for stricter controls over the portrayal of risky behaviors such as drug use in public media. She believes this will help curb the normalization of such actions and prevent the further degradation of youth mental health.
Ezeh’s call to action emphasizes the importance of raising responsible children who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital world in a healthy and balanced manner. She believes that through better regulation, parental engagement, and a shift in societal attitudes, Nigeria can foster a generation of mentally healthy and socially responsible youth.
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