By Amb. Sallieu Sankoh (Center)
The rapid growth of social media in Sierra Leone should have been a blessing. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok were meant to connect families, amplify ideas, promote businesses, educate young people, and strengthen democratic participation. Sadly, what we increasingly witness today is the opposite. The rate at which Sierra Leoneans misuse social media is alarming and deeply troubling.
It is no longer shocking to scroll through TikTok live sessions or Facebook comment sections and encounter a flood of verbal and maternal insults, some of them so degrading that they would never be uttered in public spaces. What makes this trend more disturbing is that many of the people involved are individuals who, in real life, command respect: elders, professionals, activists, religious followers, and even parents.
On TikTok especially, live sessions have turned into digital arenas of abuse. Instead of meaningful discussions on politics, culture, or development, many live broadcasts descend into shouting matches where insults are exchanged freely, mothers are dragged into arguments, and personal dignity is stripped away for public entertainment. A disagreement over politics or celebrity gossip quickly escalates into name-calling and curses, often cheered on by viewers who share, comment, and invite others to watch the drama.
Facebook, once considered a more “serious” platform, is not spared either. Posts about national issues, governance, or even football matches quickly attract comments filled with vulgar language, tribal sentiments, and personal attacks. Rather than debating ideas, people attack individuals. Rather than correcting misinformation respectfully, users choose mockery and humiliation.
Part of the problem lies in the illusion of anonymity and distance. Social media gives people the false courage to say things they would never say face-to-face. Behind a screen, insults feel cheaper, consequences seem distant, and empathy disappears. The absence of immediate accountability emboldens bad behavior.
Another issue is the growing culture of clout-chasing. On platforms like TikTok, insults attract views. Drama attracts followers. The louder and more offensive a person becomes, the more attention they receive. Unfortunately, attention is now mistaken for relevance, and relevance for influence. This dangerous mindset rewards disrespect and punishes decency.
There is also a clear breakdown in digital ethics. While many Sierra Leoneans have embraced smartphones and social media, very few have been educated on responsible digital citizenship. We were taught how to greet elders, respect family names, and maintain community harmony, yet these values are often abandoned the moment we go online. The internet has become a place where moral restraint is suspended.
The impact of this behavior goes beyond individual embarrassment. It damages our national image. Young people growing up on these platforms begin to normalize insults and aggression. Constructive dialogue is replaced with hostility. Meaningful activism is overshadowed by noise. Even serious national conversations lose credibility when they are framed in abuse.
First, personal responsibility is key. Every social media user must remember that behind every profile is a human being, a family, and a reputation. Freedom of expression does not include freedom to dehumanize others.
Second, parents, educators, and community leaders must begin conversations about digital conduct. Social media etiquette should be treated with the same seriousness as public behavior. If a child cannot insult elders in the street, they should not do so online.
Third, platform administrators and content creators must moderate their spaces. TikTok live hosts and Facebook page owners should not encourage insults for engagement. Silence in the face of abuse is often interpreted as approval.
Finally, we must return to a culture of dialogue. Disagreement is healthy; insults are not. A nation cannot develop when its citizens cannot disagree respectfully.
Social media is a powerful tool. Whether it becomes a platform for national progress or a battlefield of insults depends entirely on how we choose to use it. The responsibility is ours, collectively and individually.