Experts urge Ghanaian youth to rethink their online behaviour as digital risks grow
The Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners has called for responsible use of social media among young people, warning that growing exposure to online risks could have serious consequences for their mental health and well-being.
The society said that although the internet and social media offer opportunities for learning, communication, business and personal development, their misuse exposes young people to cyberbullying, online grooming, sextortion and other harmful activities.
The concerns were raised at the society’s maiden public lecture, held at the British Council on Friday, November 13, under the theme, “Growing Up Online: Social Media, Mental Health, and the Future of Ghana’s Youth”.
The event brought together members of the society, speakers and students from the African University of Communication and Business (AUCB) and the University of Ghana Medical Students’ Association (UGMSA), among others, to discuss the impact of digital technology on young people.
In his welcome address, the National President of the society, Dr Andre Kwasi Kumah, said the decision to organise the public lecture was to expand the organisation’s engagement beyond medical issues to include social developments affecting the population.
He explained that although the society had been in existence since 1968, its activities had largely centred on health matters, particularly during its annual general meetings.
“Though we've been in existence since 1968, we usually have our annual general meetings in the first week of August, and we try to focus on health issues since we are doctors in private practice,” he said.
Dr Kumah said the executive had decided to use the public lecture platform to raise awareness about emerging social issues, including the growing influence of social media on young people.
He acknowledged the benefits of social media, particularly its ability to connect people, provide learning opportunities and expose young people to new businesses and ideas.
However, he said society was concerned about its negative effects, including cyberbullying, low self-esteem and mental health challenges.
He said the lecture was intended to encourage an open discussion on how society could maximise the benefits of social media while reducing the risks associated with its use.
A Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF Ghana, Hilda Mensah, warned that young people faced several dangers online, including grooming, cyberbullying and sextortion, which could have serious effects on their mental health.
In an interview with Myjoyonline, she said the internet had become an important part of everyday life, providing opportunities for people to connect, learn, conduct business and develop new skills.
However, she cautioned that these benefits came with risks that required greater awareness and responsible behaviour.
“Some of the risks are online grooming, cyberbullying, sextortion, and they have a way of affecting our mental health as young people,” she said.
She explained that the consequences could include depression, suicidal attempts, social isolation, strained relationships and a loss of trust in others.
Ms Mensah therefore urged young people to be more careful about their online activities and avoid using digital platforms to bully, insult or humiliate others.
She encouraged them to use the internet for learning, innovation, personal development and activities that contribute positively to their communities.
“What it means is that you use the internet for your own development, innovation, learning, connecting positively, and making, importantly, a contribution to building your society, your community, your family and yourself,” she said.
She also reminded young people that their online activities could affect their future opportunities, as information posted on social media could remain accessible long after it was shared.
“The internet never forgets,” she cautioned.
According to her, young people should think carefully before posting anything online and ask themselves whether their content is useful, educational or contributes to building a better society.
“If it does not, pause and refrain from doing so,” she advised.
President of the Internet Society of Ghana, Dr Maud Adjeley Ashong Elliot, also urged the public to develop responsible online habits, saying the growing use of digital platforms had made online etiquette as important as conduct in everyday life.
She said the internet had become an unavoidable part of modern society and that both young and older people needed to understand how to use it safely.
“The internet has come to stay, whether we like it or not. We have to make sure we adapt, and then we survive,” she said.
Dr Ashong Elliot warned that unlike some face-to-face interactions, online activities could leave permanent records, making it difficult for users to erase inappropriate content once it had been shared.
She said people should think carefully before posting, commenting on, or forwarding information because even deleted content could have been downloaded or saved by others.
She also cautioned against the assumption that end-to-end encryption on messaging platforms guaranteed complete privacy.
“Most of us are hiding behind end-to-end encryption. It’s a wall, and walls break,” she said.
The Internet Society of Ghana president further raised concerns about excessive phone use, saying it could affect productivity, concentration and sleep, even among adults.
Sharing her personal experience, she said she had introduced a schedule to limit how frequently she checked her WhatsApp messages after realising how much time she was spending on her phone.
She advised users to set boundaries around their online activities, avoid making their phones the last thing they engage with before sleeping, and take regular breaks from digital platforms.
Dr Ashong Elliot also called on parents to take a more active interest in their children's online activities, warning that children could be exposed to harmful content at any time.
She said parental supervision should extend beyond what children do outside the home to include their activities on platforms such as YouTube and online gaming services.
She encouraged parents to occasionally check the content their children watched and the games they played, stressing that online exposure could happen around the clock.
She further urged parents and other adults to avoid forwarding inappropriate videos, even when their intention was simply to inform family members or warn others.
She explained that sharing such material could further expose victims to humiliation and violate their dignity.
“Digital citizenship” was another key issue she highlighted, saying responsible internet use required users to consider the safety and rights of other people.
According to her, people should not share intimate images, harmful videos or other sensitive content involving others, regardless of how widely such material had circulated.
Dr Ashong Elliot also urged internet users to develop stronger digital literacy skills to help them identify misinformation, fake news, online scams and phishing attempts.
She said people should verify information before sharing it and question suspicious requests for personal information, including their dates of birth and other sensitive details.
She advised users to establish why their personal information was being collected and how it would be used before agreeing to provide it.
On artificial intelligence, she acknowledged its growing importance but called for responsible and ethical use, particularly among students.
She said people should take time to understand the applications they use, read their privacy policies, and consider how their personal information might be collected or shared.
“Chatting is good, and AI has also come. Please, it has come to stay, whether we like it or not. But what we want to preach is that let's use it ethically,” she said.
She stressed that users should not simply accept the terms and conditions of digital applications without understanding the information they were agreeing to share.
The maiden public lecture forms part of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners' efforts to broaden public discussions on emerging social issues and their implications for health and wellbeing.
The discussions highlighted the need for a shared approach involving young people, parents, schools, technology users and other stakeholders to promote safer online behaviour while making the most of the opportunities offered by digital technology.
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