Young Nigerians came under fresh pressure to clean up their social media behaviour at the eighth edition of the Communication Parliamentary Summit (CPS 8.0), organised by the Communication Students Representative Council of Lagos State University's Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.

The summit, themed "Shaping Political Influence in the Social Media Era Through the Role of Media and Youth," drew media professionals, Political Analysts and students to examine the growing influence of digital platforms on governance and civic engagement.

The Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Education District III, Lagos, Olufunke Oyetola, represented by the Principal of Government Senior College, Agege, Mrs. Bolanle Alamu, warned that while social media has amplified citizens' voices and bridged communication gaps, the same platforms risk fuelling misinformation, cyberbullying, political manipulation, and ethnic division if left unchecked.

She urged students and young Nigerians to verify information before sharing it online and to deploy their digital presence in the service of truth, national unity, and constructive engagement.

Editor in Chief of DevReporting, Mojeed Alabi, attributed the surge in unverified information to the absence of effective regulation in Nigeria's media space, noting that many Nigerians now rely on Instagram and X for news rather than traditional media organisations.

Alabi cited reports of bandit attacks in Ogbomoso as a case study in how unverified content spreads rapidly online, sometimes even among professional journalists. He warned that unrestricted freedom without accountability could damage reputations, businesses, and public trust.

Political analyst Samuel Ogayemi acknowledged the positive role social media played during the EndSARS protests and the 2023 general elections, where platforms including X, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok helped mobilise donations, drive political awareness, and increase youth participation in civic activities.

He nonetheless cautioned against fake news, political polarisation, and manipulated content during election periods, urging youths to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, engage responsibly online, and respect opposing political views.