Likes, Lies and Legacy: How social media is shaping the lives of the youth

Feature by Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA 

Keta (V/R), Nov. 14, GNA – Ghana’s youth are increasingly living two lives: one in the physical world and another, on online, where likes, comments, followers and trending hashtags shape their sense of popularity, acceptance and success. 

Nationally, platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and X have transformed how young people communicate, learn, earn, and relate to one another.  

Yet alongside the opportunities for creativity and economic empowerment, concerns are mounting over cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, misinformation, and the pressure to maintain a perfect online image. 

The question is whether social media is preparing young people for a better future or producing a generation more concerned with online popularity than personal development. 

Social media has given young Ghanaians and global youth a platform to showcase their talents, promote businesses and reach audiences far beyond their immediate communities. Entrepreneurs now advertise clothing, cosmetics, food, photography and graphic design services without owning physical shops. 

Cynthia Deladem Osei, a 24-year-old graphic designer at Akatsi, built her client base through Instagram and TikTok. She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the platforms had opened doors for people with limited resources. 

“I did not need connections or capital to start. I just started with my Android phone, data, and consistency. Today, half my clients are Ghanaians, Nigerians and others abroad, who found me through a reel,” she said. 

Beyond business, digital platforms have become important spaces for discussing unemployment, environmental degradation, illegal mining, road safety, education, and mental health. 

Education has also benefited, with students increasingly turning to YouTube, TikTok and other platforms for tutorials, examination preparation and academic discussions. 

Jerry John Ahiamata, a Level 100 Communication Studies student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), said educational content had helped him grasp difficult concepts. Creators who simplified lessons through practical examples, he said, had made learning more accessible, although students needed discipline to avoid distractions. 

When Entertainment Becomes Exploitation 

Despite these benefits, concerns are growing over sexually explicit content and the exploitation of young users. Some young people share inappropriate material to attract followers and financial rewards, while others, including minors, face manipulation or pressure to distribute private photographs. 

Mr Mawuli Grandel, a cybersecurity expert, told the GNA that social media had blurred the line between entertainment, personal expression and exploitation. 

“Young people are chasing virality without understanding that a single video can follow them into a job interview, a marriage proposal or a court case ten years from now,” he said, warning that deleting content does not necessarily erase it, since copies may remain accessible and damage reputations. 

Cyberbullying, body-shaming, fabricated allegations, and non-consensual circulation of private photographs have also generated serious problems. 

A counsellor at a public senior high school in Greater Accra, who requested anonymity, said she handles at least two social-media-related distress cases weekly, involving leaked photographs, public ridicule and coordinated online attacks.  

She said victims sometimes withdraw from social activities, lose confidence, and suffer anxiety and low self-esteem. 

Religious leaders have also raised concerns about staged miracles, manipulative financial appeals, and the mockery of sacred practices for entertainment. 

Pastor Kobla Gavor Dzorka of the Global Evangelical Church at Tetekope in the Keta Municipality, said the competition for online attention was pushing some people to sacrifice religious values for popularity and money seeking. 

He said, “Faith is being turned into content. This is a clear warning that young people could struggle to distinguish genuine religious activities from performances designed primarily to attract views and donations,” urging religious leaders to promote discipline, honesty and responsible use of digital platforms. 

Misinformation and the Regulation Debate 

False health information, fabricated political claims, and manipulated photographs and videos spread rapidly online, sometimes creating confusion and tension.  

Mr Kwame Apolo, an investigative journalist and fact-checker, said social media had accelerated information sharing but also increased the speed at which falsehoods reach the public.  

He urged young people to verify information before sharing it, particularly during elections and public health emergencies. 

Mr Sampson Xoagbevey, a parent at Abor and a Parent-Teacher Association member, said monitoring children’s online activities has become increasingly difficult, with increased concerns about inappropriate content and insults and called for stronger regulation. 

Mr Raymond Gankui, a digital rights and technology policy analyst, however, cautioned against an outright ban, arguing that social media is not inherently harmful. 

“The problem is not the App, it is the absence of digital literacy, parental supervision and enforceable content standards. There should be targeted regulation over prohibition,” he said. 

He advocated stronger platform accountability, effective reporting mechanisms, and age-appropriate restrictions that protect vulnerable users without undermining digital rights. 

Stakeholders Call for Collective Responsibility 

Mr Ferdinand Amuzu, the Public Relations Officer of the Keta Municipal Education Directorate, said tackling these challenges required cooperation among schools, parents, government agencies and technology companies.  

He called for digital literacy education, age-verification systems, improved content moderation, and sanctions against those circulating explicit or defamatory material involving minors. 

A child protection advocate at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Keta, said some parents provide smartphones and unrestricted internet access without discussing the dangers with their children. 

“We cannot police the internet, but we can raise children who know how to protect themselves from it. Child welfare must be a paramount priority to safeguard their freedom and their limits,” the official said. 

Mr Che Tsatsu Sorkpor, a Mental Health Officer at the Keta Municipal Hospital, urged that social media wellness education be built into school guidance and counselling programmes, and that parents and teachers must watch out for behavioural changes in students. 

Social media is neither a blessing nor a curse; its influence depends on how individuals, families, institutions and society use and regulate it.  

Parents, schools, tech companies, and regulators must work together to strengthen digital education and protect young users.  

For a generation of chasing likes and followers, online popularity may be temporary, but the consequences of digital behaviour can last a lifetime. 

Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo