Nene Aderibigbe, mother of Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, has raised concerns about the influence of social media on Generation Z, arguing that constant exposure to online opinions may be affecting young people's ability to think independently and recognise their own potential.
In a video shared online, Aderibigbe said she was worried that many young people increasingly measure their thoughts and experiences against what they see on social media instead of developing their own perspectives.
She recalled an interaction with one of her children, who questioned whether something she had said amounted to “fake life”. For Aderibigbe, the exchange illustrated how social media conversations and labels can influence the way young people interpret everyday experiences.
“I worry so much for Gen Z because social media has turned everything upside down.”
“Social media has just turned a lot of things upside down. They don’t have their own thinking again; it is only people’s thinking they use now.”
“Take your time, drop your phone down for two, three hours, do mental note, put your head down, take a mental note or meditate.”
She also expressed concern that many young people are gifted but fail to recognise their own abilities, partly because of the influence of social media.
It gives readers her actual central argument rather than reducing the story to a general warning about screen time.
She encouraged members of Gen Z to spend more time away from their phones, reflect on their lives and make deliberate use of their creativity and individual abilities.
Aderibigbe also advised young people to meditate, think carefully about their plans and seek God's guidance rather than allowing online trends and other people's opinions to dictate their decisions.
Her message centred on the importance of recognising that young people already possess abilities and potential that can be developed through independent thought, focus and purposeful action.
Social media gives young people access to information, opportunities and communities, but it also exposes them to constant comparison, public judgement and pressure to conform. Aderibigbe's comments raise a broader question about how much influence online culture should have over personal identity and decision-making.
The challenge is not necessarily to abandon social media, but to develop the confidence to think beyond it. Being connected to the world should not come at the expense of understanding oneself.
Jaiyeorie — What's happening | Why It Matters.
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