Upsurge In Nudity On Social Media

There has been a disturbing development of late on social media, especially a rise in nudity. It is baffling the rate at which especially young ladies expose their bodies on social media without any shred of shame. Also gaining currency on social media is sex videos. There have been numerous instances where young men and women film themselves having sex and later post it on social media such as facebook and whatsapp. It is true that in some instances, the videos are posted without the consent of the other partner ostensibly to blackmail them or bring them to public ridicule. But again, evidence abounds that some of the videos are posted by the people themselves. One can recollect an aspiring SRC President of the University of Cape Coast, who allegedly posted nude pictures of herself on social media as well as a female radio presenter who was allegedly gang raped and taped, which eventually turned out that the lady herself was complicit in the posting of the videos. No matter how one looks at it, this calls for great concern. That in about 99 percent of the videos, women tend out to be the victims.

Not too long ago, a number of boys publicly broadcast a sex video to shame one actor in the video- the woman who engaged in consensual sex with a man who may have recorded her without her knowledge. The incident allegedly took place at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology but the school authorities have denied it. Sex videos emerging from Ghana's universities are nothing new. The disturbing aspect is the fact that people are eager to rebroadcast and circulate such videos contrary to the laws. Many people are oblivious of the fact that they can be jailed for such conduct. Some time ago, a young guy was sentenced to about five years in prison for posting nude pictures of her former girlfriend on Facebook in revenge for the lady's decision to break up with him. It is insightful to read that the law on data protection forbids people from even watching such videos and images, let alone spreading them. The law on pornography is also clear that no one has the right to broadcast nude pictures or videos of themselves or others. Even in the absence of laws, one wonders what has happened to people's moral values that they feel comfortable engaging in such conduct.

Ghanaians pride themselves as being religious with a greater majority of them professing their faith in Christianity. One is yet to discover any religion that encourages its adherents to do the kinds of things happening nowadays.

Do these people really understand why sexual organs are referred to as private parts or why human sexual intercourse does not take place in the open? If people are bold to post their nude pictures and sexual activities on social media, they should as well move around town naked. Going forward, society must wage a relentless war on such conducts and discourage the actors from further engaging in them. Wisa, the young musician who allegedly exposed his manhood during a performance on stage was condemned nationwide and he had no option than to apologise, even though he later went to court to claim that what he showed was an artificial object. Traditional and religious leaders must take up the campaign to get their subjects to lead decent and morally upright lives. People must be aware that filming oneself having sex or taking nude pictures is no entertainment or fun in a relationship and it is no proof of love or intimacy. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection must take up the advocacy to end this behaviour. The law enforcement agencies, especially the police must also up their game and arrest the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to book. Ghana must demonstrate to the rest of the world that this is a country of solid moral values and virtues.

BY SHARON ASMAH, A JOURNALIST.