Social media crises affect everyone, not just journalists — Adisa-Jaji
A solutions journalist and fact-checking expert, Adisa-Jaji Azeez, has warned that the challenges of social media crises and negative feedback are realities that cut across all sectors.
Adisa-Jaji, who is the Managing Director and Head of FactCheck at The Informant247 and also work for Social Voices, gave the advice during a two-day YAN Media Workshop held on Tuesday at the Kwara State University of Education, Sawmill, Ilorin.
Leading a session, Jaji spoke on the topic “Handling Social Media Crises and Negative Feedback (Cause & Solution)”. He explained that misinformation, poor communication, and lack of accountability are the major triggers of online crises.
According to him, the way individuals and organizations respond often determines whether a situation escalates or is resolved.“
Crisis on social media is not peculiar to journalists. It affects businesses, civil groups, politicians, and even private individuals,” Jaji noted. “Everyone who has a presence online must learn to manage criticism with patience, evidence, and empathy.”
Jaji emphasized that social media is not only a tool for information sharing but also a platform where reputations and trust can be easily built or destroyed.
Beyond crisis management, Jaji called on all social media users to adopt responsible communication habits such as fact-checking, constructive dialogue, and ethical reporting, arguing that such practice is critical to countering the spread of misinformation and toxic engagement.
Speaking on the human angle of the conversation, he said it centered on how ordinary individuals are impacted: from small business owners to students, he noted that one false post or mismanaged feedback online could damage years of work or trust.
He further stressed that the lessons were not reserved for media professionals alone, but extend to entrepreneurs, educators, and government communicators who increasingly rely on digital platforms, noting that digital citizenship must be guided by empathy, responsibility, and truth.
Jaji concluded that building a healthier digital ecosystem in Kwara State and beyond will require collaboration among journalists, civil society, policymakers, and everyday users.
