Use computer social networks for networking opportunities - Prof Quaynor

Professor Nii Quaynor, Chairman of the Internet Society, ISOC Ghana Chapter, has called for more education on the uses and benefits of computer social network sites for the development of the country.

     He said Ghanaians were now known to be involving in social networking at the expense of productivity.

     Prof Quaynor made the call at the first quarterly meeting of ISOC Ghana Chapter on the theme, “Social Networks Benefits and Challenges” in Accra on Friday.

     He said there should be a national policy to regulate the participation of users of social networking sites.

     “Users should be made to regulate the content messages they put on the sites,” he said.

     He cautioned the users of those networking sites to be careful with information they posted on the walls, because it was in the public domain and so anything being put there should be acceptable to the public.

     Prof Quaynor noted that there were numerous benefits that could be derived from social networking but that it would depend on the individual’s use.

     He urged the youth to use the social tool to network for opportunities rather than mere friendship and communication.

     “Parents should not leave their children to the mercy of the internet because the internet could be destructive and productive as well,” he added.

     Mr Eric Akumiah, the former General Secretary of ISOC Ghana, in a presentation on the topic: “Emerging Issues: impact of Social Networks”, said Social networks were the fourth most popular online activity ahead of personal emails in the world.

     He said apart from using it for communication purposes, the social networks were not having any positive impact on the users in the country at the moment.

     He said these sites could be used effectively to develop so many aspects of the national life.

     Mr Akumiah urged the users, especially the younger ones, to use face book particularly responsibly, since Twitter and Linkedin were not too common in the country.

     He also advocated for content policy to be introduced to regulate some of the activities of the users.

     Giving the example of Brazil, Mr Akumiah said authorities in that country had to use legislation and regulatory framework to check the activities of users as well as site providers.

     Participants at the meeting expressed views on the privacy of users and also how some of the users abused the sites for unprofitable gains.