Will policing social media restore sanity to the Kenyan society?

(Photo: Courtesy)

Social media has become the arena for bullying  and spreading malicious, fictitious, baseless lies and disperse misinformation on people's lives.

It seems to me that there are some social media aficionados who relish nothing more than to criticise and needlessly tarnish other people's reputations. Social media have been used to create panic and negativity. In some cases people committed suicide while others contend with deadly stalkers who have denied them privacy and peace in life.

Policing social media will restore sanity to society because individuals will have to be careful before committing social media crimes such as bullying, therefore reducing cases of suicide.

Policing them will also enable individuals who have been offended through social media to sue and get justice. The cost of paying for a lawyer and going through the legal process will help keep mischievous individuals off social media for the cost will be high.

Bad habits on social media rub off on the youth. Policing them will mean only age-appropriate individuals will be able to get access to social media and this will reduce the immorality that is spreading among the youth.

Policing social media will also keep idlers away as they have been noted to be among the leading causes of crimes. Idlers will find more useful things to do instead of planning criminal activities that cause harm to the country.

Therefore, policing social media will play a very key role in restoring sanity.

Ms Okoth is a Nairobi-based lawyer