The rise of “Social Media Courts” has become a growing concern in South Africa, Nigeria, and America, with increasing numbers of people turning to social platforms to pass judgment on legal matters, according to Charles Awuzie. In his recent commentary, Awuzie warned that if the trend continues unchecked, it could lead to lives being lost in these countries due to the influence of social media in the justice system.
Awuzie stated, “The Court of Social Media is becoming more dangerous in South Africa, Nigeria, and America. If nothing is done to curb this, I predict that lives will someday be lost in these countries because social media judges concluded a case based on sentiments while believing that their judicial systems are compromised and thus not reliable.”
He further acknowledged that while there may be valid reasons for skepticism toward judicial systems in these countries, the growing trend of public judgment on social media has led to a dangerous form of “jungle justice.” He cautioned that both a compromised judiciary and unchecked social media justice pose equal threats to society.
“These countries will soon realize that jungle justice and a compromised judiciary are equal evils,” Awuzie added, urging caution in how individuals approach conclusions drawn on social platforms. He reminded his readers that “social media is social, not always factual.”
Awuzie highlighted a case in South Africa that underscores the growing issue. A school principal, accused of raping a 7-year-old girl at his school, became the subject of a social media frenzy. DNA results later exonerated the principal, confirming he was not linked to the crime. Despite the outcome, Awuzie explained that the damage to the principal’s reputation was irreversible, leaving him “collateral damage” in the court of public opinion.
While some argue the principal deserves an apology, others claim he may have paid to exonerate himself, demonstrating the deep divide that social media judgments can create. “Social media court is always right and anyone who says it can be wrong risks being canceled,” Awuzie concluded.
