Social Media: A Security Threat amongst Adolescents in Buea, Cameroon?

Abstract

Social media provide a platform through which societies can either be constructed or destabilized. In view of the ongoing bloody conflicts in Cameroon, this study examines the extent to which social media could pose as a security threat (with particular focus on community security) amongst adolescents in Buea, capital of the South West Region in Cameroon. The study uses a quantitative approach, through the collection of data from adolescents in four communities in Buea (Muea, Bomaka, Mile 16, and Molyko). These four areas are selected because the current socio-political crisis rocking the two Anglophone regions of the country – Northwest and Southwest, is particularly severe in these communities. Social media (notably Facebook and WhatsApp) spread dangerous content, and adolescents are vulnerable to such content. Findings indicate that there is a high rate of social media use (Facebook and WhatsApp) amongst adolescents surveyed. Also, the most discussed items on social media are socio-cultural issues (68%), as opposed to political issues (17.8%). Respondents were receptive to discussions on socio-cultural issues like dressing, language and relationships. Results also show that though adolescents come across violent content on social media, they have distanced themselves from being involved in the production, consumption, and dissemination (for instance, share information as received) of such violent content, partly because of the judicial consequences of doing so, as contained in the country’s Terrorism Law of December 2014. The implication here is that, since the adolescents are not yet intoxicated (whether advertently or inadvertently) with destructive social media content, need exists for the effective education of the adolescents, to enable this vulnerable and younger population to continue desisting from negative social media content. Emphasis should be on the consumption of positive social media content that helps in the moral and psychological growth of adolescents.

Snail Meat Consumption in Buea, Cameroon: The Methodological Challenges in Exploring Its Public Health Risks

“…We were interested in uploaded videos, statements, and comments on people experiences as snail consumers and vendors. We watched two snail meat preparation videos from Buea (BTI, 2020; Ngange et al, 2019), and several others from Nigeria and Ghana (BTI, 2020; Ngange et al, 2019). According to Creswell (2014), “If themes are established based on converging several sources of data or perspectives from participants, then this process can be claimed as adding to the validity of the study.” As such, our findings are to be trusted.…”

“…9 In the early days of the Anglophone crisis earlier mentioned, separatists created the Ambazonian Freedom Fighters on Facebook and WhatsApp to rally supporters against the Cameroonian government. Through these pages, activists gained momentum to initiate strike actions, impose ghost towns, 10 and created fear among the population (Ngange et al, 2019). Inquiring from people we met in public places (streets and bus stops) lead to questions such as “ where do you live ,” “ what quarter do you come from ,” “ who are your parents ,” “ how did you know I sell or eat snails ,” which we believed was their strategy to maintain privacy and confidentiality.…”

“…As earlier mentioned, Buea persistently observed "complete lockdown" days colloquially referred to by residents as "ghost town" (BTI, 2020;Ngange et al, 2019). On such a day and thereafter, fear was common, and inhabitants were forced to engage mostly in indoor activities.…”

“…In October 2016, for example, a marginalization crisis started with lawyers and teachers demanding professional reforms. This later lead to armed conflicts termed the Anglophone crisis, with separatist fighters calling for secession of English Cameroon (i.e., 20 percent of the total Cameroonian population), to a formation of an “independent Ambazonia” state (Ngange et al, 2019; Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index [BTI], 2020). In the southwest region, this resulted in over 3000 deaths, with about 200 000 internally displaced and over 100 000 as refugees in Nigeria (Ngange et al, 2019; BTI, 2020).…”

“…This later lead to armed conflicts termed the Anglophone crisis, with separatist fighters calling for secession of English Cameroon (i.e., 20 percent of the total Cameroonian population), to a formation of an “independent Ambazonia” state (Ngange et al, 2019; Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index [BTI], 2020). In the southwest region, this resulted in over 3000 deaths, with about 200 000 internally displaced and over 100 000 as refugees in Nigeria (Ngange et al, 2019; BTI, 2020). Consequently, Buea’s population reduced from 300 000 inhabitants in 2005 to 169 745 inhabitants in 2017 (BCDP, 2012; Nicholas et al, 2020a).…”