You Can’t Control Social Media

I am responding to the article “Apostle Adei Jnr urges youth to desist from abusive language on social media.”

The contemporary development of free speech in Ghana is firmly rooted in the 1992 Constitution. Article 21(1)(a) guarantees freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media, while Article 162 explicitly prohibits censorship and protects media independence. These constitutional safeguards transformed Ghana from an era of military rule, censorship, and restricted public discourse into a democratic society where diverse voices can openly participate in national conversations.

Journalists gained greater autonomy to investigate and report on public affairs, and citizens acquired unprecedented opportunities to engage in democratic debate. The constitutional framework was further strengthened through key democratic reforms. The repeal of the Criminal Libel and Seditious Libel Laws in 2001 marked a historic turning point by reducing state intimidation of journalists and expanding press freedom. The passage of the Right to Information Act in 2019 deepened democratic accountability by giving citizens and journalists greater access to public information.

You cannot control what people say on social media. People have their own opinions. For example, someone may say: “I don’t agree with the way the President runs the country,” or “He is a bad President,” or even “Don’t vote for him again.” On social media, especially in the United States, people freely express their opinions about the President—positive or negative. That is the nature of social media, and it is protected by freedom of speech.

As long as the content is not threatening, abusive, or harmful, people have the right to express their views. They can comment on an article involving the President, whether good or bad. If they choose to post their opinion, that is their right. If others choose to comment, that is also their right.

In America, freedom of speech is strongly protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as state constitutions and federal laws. Freedom of speech—also called free speech—means the public expression of opinions without censorship, interference, or restraint by the government.

You may wish to control what people say, but if the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, then people can express their opinions. For example, they can respond to a comment or statement made by the President. If they want to post what the President said and add their opinion, they have the right to do so.

You cannot control what people say on social media unless it is a threat, offensive content, or sexual content. Platforms like Twitter allow users to choose what type of content they want to see. You can report posts you find inappropriate, and the platform will review them. You can also unfollow or block someone, or simply ignore their posts. In this case, ignoring it may be the best option.