This document discusses issues around oversharing private information on social media. It notes that social media users need to understand what should remain private versus what is appropriate to share publicly. The document expresses concern over letters from Nigerian presidents and a former president being leaked and shared online, including personal contact information. While dissent and whistleblowing have their place, private government communications should not be publicly divulged. The institution of the presidency, not just current personalities, could be harmed by such leaks and oversharing of private information online.

1. By: ELISHA BELLO
DP/IT/13/003A

2. • Sometimes it baffles me on when social media users
understand the boundary on what it suppose to be in the
public domain and what is suppose to be under lock and
key.
• People ought to know sharing stuff on social media
platforms need to confirm to the norms and value of the
society. Social media users need to weigh the implication of
“over-sharing” to see on whether it is legal, ethical or moral
to share stuff online. Apart from the issue of intellectual
property right, other angles of what is supposed to be in
public domain or against public interest need to be looked
into.

3. • I became flabbergasted when I spotted the official
communication of President Goodluck Jonathan to the
senate President David Mark on Facebook some few minutes
after the mail was acknowledged from the office of the
Senate President.
• Some few days back, another letter written by former
President Olusegun Obasanjo was also leaked to the
pressed. On that letter, Obasanjo’ email, telephone number
and address could be visibly spotted by anyone that sighted
the letter online.
• Regardless of what people might think on the content of the
letter, one day someone will leak a secret that doesn’t
require to be in the public domain.

4. • From all indication, the letter was scanned and shared by
someone closed to the senate President or a “distinguished
senator” who happens to be a close friend of some media
outfits.
• My concern should not be misconstrued, I sincerely believe
in a for dissent, right for self-expression and in fact right for
whistle blowing, but I do not subscribe in divulging
government communication.
• We are seeing this as a non-issue simply because people are
tired of President’s style of leadership, but my concern is
for the institution not the personality.

5. • And for those who are fond of over-sharing stuff online, Eric
Schmidt has this to say “people will one day change their
and reinvent themselves in order to escape their digital
past”.