Professor of History, Toyin Falola, has cautioned that social media can give people a false sense of belonging while leaving them without the strong personal relationships and community support they need during difficult times.
He made this known on Saturday while delivering a lecture titled “Globalisation and Social Clubs” at the 50th anniversary of the Ibadan Social Group.
Falola explained that digital platforms may make users feel connected, but they often lack the trust, commitment and mutual support that come with meaningful relationships.
He noted that people could spend several hours online or build large networks of professional contacts without having anyone to rely on when faced with serious personal or work-related challenges.
He said, “Platforms are built for involvement, not solidarity, and these are not the same thing at all.
“The platforms are incredibly adept at providing the emotion of social contact, the hit of recognition, the sense that you have been seen, while consistently failing to provide the content of it.”
The professor said the decline in face-to-face interactions had affected community life, adding that neighbourhood associations, professional bodies, civic clubs and other voluntary groups had traditionally helped people build trust, share knowledge and maintain relationships beyond family and business ties.
According to him, globalisation has weakened some of these traditional structures, while social media offers an easier alternative that often requires less commitment.
He compared the experience to consuming something that provides instant satisfaction but lacks the substance needed to sustain lasting relationships.
Falola also observed that the demands of the global economy, including the pressure to remain mobile and competitive, could discourage people from maintaining long-term involvement in their communities.
He said professionals were increasingly expected to move from one location to another in search of opportunities rather than invest years in local relationships and institutions.
“The individual who lives in one location, who forms connections slowly over years, who invests in local institutions over decades, is less competitive, by the operational logic of the global economy, than the person who chases opportunity wherever it materialises,” he said.
He warned that this trend could leave people successful in their careers but isolated socially.
Falola stressed that social clubs remained valuable because membership involved more than being visible or collecting contacts. It required commitment, mutual responsibility and a willingness to support other members.
He explained that belonging to a group meant taking on responsibilities and contributing to the well-being of others, rather than simply subscribing to a service or following an online community.
The academic added that physical gatherings and shared activities allowed people to build deeper relationships through regular interactions and years of participation.
However, he clarified that his position was not against technology but against relying on digital communication as a replacement for genuine human interaction.
Falola urged social organisations to demonstrate the benefits of physical meetings and sustained community involvement, warning against allowing increased online connectivity to weaken meaningful relationships and collective support.