A recent report by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has highlighted the alarming extent to which social media platforms are amplifying indecent language broadcasted on radio.

According to the report, nearly all (43 out of 46) recorded violations of indecent expressions on radio were also streamed live on social media, with Facebook and YouTube being the primary platforms.

The MFWA's findings reveal that the show hosts frequently directed listeners to their radio stations' social media handles, contributing to the widespread dissemination of hate speech and offensive comments.

“All 43 violations streamed live were on Facebook, and 25 of these violations were also streamed simultaneously on YouTube,” the report stated.

This dual broadcasting on social media platforms is particularly troubling because it not only widens the reach of these harmful expressions but also preserves them, potentially influencing public sentiment and peace ahead of the December 2024 general elections, the report revealed.

It underscored the significant role social media plays in perpetuating the existence and potential negative impact of these inciteful comments.

The MFWA warned that this preservation of indecent expressions on social media could pose a threat to the nation’s stability, especially in the politically charged environment leading up to the elections.

Moderation of Programmes by Hosts

The report also assesses the conduct of programme moderators or hosts, scrutinising their efforts to prevent hate speech and other indecent expressions on their platforms

Findings from the monitoring period which spanned from June 7 to June 30, 2024 indicated that some moderators not only failed to curtail the use of offensive language but also directly engaged in it themselves.