Social media regulation will cause job loss, says Mark Angel

popular Nigerian comedian and video producer, Mark Angel, says the move by the Federal Government to regulate the social media will lead to job loss.

According to the producer best known for the Mark Angel Comedy Series on various social media platforms, a lot of Nigerian youths earn their living by creating content on social media.

The producer of popular comedienne, Emanuella Samuel, spoke on Monday in a PUNCH Facebook Live Interview.

Mark Angel advised government officials and those pushing for the restriction of the social media to, instead, face other “major problems” in the country and leave the social media.

He said, “Imagine you want to regulate social media when some of us are self-employed through social media. There are no jobs, yet you want to restrict social media. I don’t even want to talk about that thing. Anybody that even tries it, it is God that will knock on his door and answer him.”

Topnij had earlier reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder if the issue of fake news is not urgently addressed, insisting on the regulation of social media in the country.

The regulation of the social media became more topical in the aftermath of the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests last month as government officials believed the social media was used to circulate fake news that fueled the unrest.

The move by the government, which has been supported by most governors, has, however, been condemned by civil society organisations who described it as a violation of the right to free speech.