Hours after the siege on the capitol by Trumpsters, social media platforms banned the accounts of the US President. Donald Trump was accused for inciting the violence through his tweets, the culmination of which led to the death of five people and the desecration of America's hallowed chamber.

Twitter permanently banned the President’s account despite amassing 89 million followers. Facebook and Instagram equally followed suit equally suspending the Presidents account until after the inauguration. In a statement released by the company, Facebook said, “the risk of not suspending the account were simply too great”.

Apple and Google suspended social media app, Parler from their stores after the social media platform failed to address the proliferation of white supremacist views on its platform. Twitter's ban on Donald Trump led to a backlash on Parler, leading some members on the social network to call for war. One post in particular called for a "million militia march" by patriots on inauguration day. Others such as Youtube, Reddit, Tiktok and Snapchat took down content that helped incite the violence at capitol.

The decision by social media platforms to suspend the accounts of the President has raised debates surrounding the censorship of free speech, but has also opened up discourses of the role of social media and online platforms in defending the ethos of humanity and dousing the flame of divisiveness.

Globally, the agitation for more responsibility on the part of social media platforms in censpring content on their platforms is growing. In November, the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter were summoned before Congress to defend their handling of disinformation in the 2020 presidential election. Facebook in particular has come under scathing attacks for its somewhat lacklustre attitude towards moderating vile content and disinformation.

Though social media companies have rescinded the idea to expunge Section 230 which absolves them from any responsibility of content posted on their platforms, social media platforms have also stepped up the fight against inciteful comments. This led to the deleting or several posts of President Trump deemed false or inciteful.

In Nigeria, Nairaland is one of the most popular websites. The platform is the fifth most popular website visited by Nigerians. The case of Nairaland is unique because it was built by a Nigerian for Nigerians. As such, it provides an ambit through which Nigerian voices can be heard in undiluted form.
However, unlike the social responsibility shown by the aforementioned social media platforms to curb hateful and inciteful comments, Nairaland to the chagrin of most users has become a cesspool of polarizing and divisive views. When users are not drunk on religious intolerance and ethnic extremism, they are embroiled in venomous personal insults.

There is hardly any thread that makes it to the front page that is not fainted with ethnic or religious colourations. Each person or group tries to slander the reputation of those that opposes their views. Divergent ideas are not entertained, but met with insults and verbal assault.
While the Nairaland makes it possible to report hateful comments. However, this has done little to steer the avalanche of hate that has engulfed the website. Sinister groups, which are organized, have also taken advantage of the site’s lacklustre approach at expounding hateful comment. These groups create a litany of monikers used to spread disinformation and slander ethic groups. They pose as genuine members and start off discussions aimed at fanning the embers of hate and in the process draw unsuspecting members into their fold.

Nairaland could borrow a leaf, or a couple of branches from the social media giants and expunge tribal slur and religious extremism on its platform. The site has to own up to its responsibility of protecting whatever shreds of mental sanity Nigerians have left. This is more expedient considering that we are approaching what may be the most divisive and contested election in this republic.

Just the way Facebook, Twitter and the likes have decided to curb incendiary speech, Nairaland should step up and defuse the ticking bomb of tribalism and religious intolerance. The lessons from the Capitol riot and Rwandan genocide are testament of how words can create a destructive mob. But a word is also enough for the wise.

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Op,no vex...i go tell nairaland mods to ban trump from nairaland..abeg wetin be him moniker?

very apt. These are the type of posts that should grace the front page.

donbachi:
Op,no vex...i go tell nairaland mods to ban trump from nairaland..abeg wetin be him moniker?

We have a million Trumps on nairaland spreading hate. They should be banned. NL needs to wake up

Nairaland is local social media platform so don't compare it with those worldwide platforms.

Baawaa:
Nairaland is local social media platform so don't compare it with those worldwide platforms.

Nobody is comparing. that's why i said what they can learn from them

Nairaland is not a representation of the real world. Stupid people exist worldwide, but while stupid people in developed nations can risk their lives for another man's idea of totalitarian freedom, the same cannot happen here — Nigerians love their lives too much and will never go past their comfort zones. All the insults start and stop here. Is it the JSS 2 or SS 1 boy who insults women and other tribes here who would rally neighbours to protest against the oppressive government? Never in a million years. The guy never learn Yahoo or reach age to drink in nightclubs.