The traditional fabric of Nigerian society faces an unprecedented existential crisis driven by unmonitored social media consumption and a severe collapse in parental responsibility, Bishop Akintayo Asamu warned on Sunday.
Reporting live from the Niwaju-Oluwa broadcast Sunday Service on Brave 91.1FM Ogbomoso today, October 4, 2026, THENEWSCREDIT captured the cleric`s powerful message. Speaking on the topic "The Societal and Influential Impact of Social Media on Human Life," Bishop Asamu cautioned that moral standards are decaying because reality is now being staged, urging an immediate return to biblical foundations for families and the wider community.
The Rise of `Algorithm-Raised` Children and the Call to Obey
Modern technology has ushered in an era where many parents have effectively abandoned their roles, leaving social media algorithms to raise a generation of children.
"A majority of what is consumed online is fake, staged, and highly dramatic," the Bishop warned during the broadcast monitored by THENEWSCREDIT. By treating these curated illusions as reality, young minds are absorbing distorted views of life, wealth, and relationships.
To combat this, Bishop Asamu strongly emphasized the scriptural command for children to obey and respect their parents. Citing Ephesians 6:1–3 and Exodus 20:12, he reminded the congregation that honoring parents is the first commandment with a promise of longevity. He further reinforced this with Colossians 3:20 and Leviticus 19:3, stating that parental respect pleases God.
"Our youth must listen to parental instruction and not forsake their mother`s teaching, as admonished in Proverbs 1:8 and Proverbs 23:22," the cleric noted. "The collapse of this foundational chain of command is where our societal woes begin."
Digital Deception, Echo Chambers, and Guarding the Heart
Addressing the mechanics of social media, the Bishop explained how modern public opinion is heavily polarized by misinformation, filtered realities, and online mobs.
He cited Exodus 23:1, warning directly against sharing unverified news, gossip, or misinformation online: "You shall not spread a false report." He compared modern algorithmic echo chambers to the prophecy in 2 Timothy 4:3, where people accumulate teachers to suit their own passions rather than enduring sound truth.
Bishop Asamu has urged believers to protect their spiritual well-being by actively navigating today`s toxic digital landscape with scriptural principles. Speaking on the profound impact of online content, the bishop emphasized the critical need for guarding visual consumption. Citing Matthew 6:22–23 and Proverbs 4:23, he reminded his audience that what is consumed online flows directly into the spiritual state, making it vital to guard the mind against the constant digital influx.
To counteract these modern distractions, Bishop Asamu called for intentional screen time and a deliberate focus on truth. Drawing from Ephesians 5:15–16, he urged society to walk wisely and make the best use of their time because "the days are evil." Concluding his charge, he referenced Philippians 4:8, encouraging believers to anchor their digital habits by fixing their minds strictly on what is true, honorable, pure, and commendable.
Exorbitant Weddings and the Slide into Crime
The digital shift has had a devastating impact on the institution of marriage, where traditional values like mutual respect, submission, and cooperation are fast disappearing. In many modern homes, family bonding has been replaced by screen time and food delivery apps, driving up divorce rates.
This financial and social pressure is gripping Nigeria’s youth. Driven by extravagant digital lifestyles, many brides-to-be and their families now demand exorbitant "classic" weddings that young men find financially impossible to achieve. Desperate to replicate fake online wealth and secure societal validation, an alarming number of young individuals are sabotaging their futures by joining cults and engaging in cybercrime (Yahoo-Yahoo), ultimately destroying their lives at an early age.
Rebuilding Community and the Illusion of Virtue
Compounding this decay is a troubling rise in the illusion of virtue, where individuals present a pious public image while harboring destructive habits in private. This stark contrast leaves a generation trapped between unrealistic financial expectations and a culture of superficial righteousness.
Bishop Asamu maintained that a healthy society relies on true, honest living. Citing Proverbs 14:34, he declared that goodness lifts up a nation, while wrongdoing brings shame. He called for a revival of genuine, physical fellowship over superficial virtual connections, referencing Hebrews 10:24–25.
Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:18, and Jeremiah 29:7, the Bishop outlined the blueprint for a restored community—one marked by sharing, carrying each other`s heavy loads, seeking the peace and well-being of the city, and living at peace with everyone.
A Call to Action for Elders and Leaders
Bishop Asamu insisted that this moral decline cannot be blamed entirely on the youth. He strongly rebuked community leaders and elders who have largely remained silent, watching the destruction from the sidelines.
Rather than succumbing to the negative forces of technology, the Bishop challenged Christians to leverage social media platforms as tools for digital evangelism and positive influence, fulfilling Matthew 5:14–16 to be the "light of the world." He charged elders and society to rise up immediately, stand firmly against destructive behaviors, and actively work to restore the purity, respect, and foundational values that once defined Nigerian communities.