The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Ghana Chapter has urged women who are social media influencers to create contents which would positively mentor girls.
In a statement issued by the Chapter on Tuesday, it said most of the contents created by these social media influencers were fixated on their bodies and material wealth.
Such contents, according to the Chapter, had the tendency of causing these young girls, who copy blindly, to emulate the influencers.
The Chapter, therefore, stressed on the need to design technologies in a way that would help reduce the challenges associated with its use, especially, among girls.
It adds that “research by FAWE has demonstrated that many of the apparent challenges faced by girls in acquiring science and technology will vanish when teaching techniques, equipment and technologies are designed towards their ways of learning”.
The Chapter also acknowledged young girls who had become tech savvy and were using the social media platform to impact young girls positively.
“We appreciate young women who have become technology savvy, especially by way of a strong online presence on Instagram, YouTube, etc., and are using this knowledge to put out contents,” the statement read.
Apart from the contents created by influencers on social media, the Chapter also raised concern over the local consequences of global instabilities that affected women and girls directly.
Similarly, the Chapter lamented on the decision of families to sacrifice the education of the girl child after they have been shaken by impossible life choices.
Additionally, it said “in the midst of the harsh conditions of the economic uncertainties, girls are subjected to increased demands for marriage and transactional sex from older men”.
In order to address the issue, the Chapter called on men in responsible positions to join like-minded individuals to work towards removing “this canker from our society and safeguarding its future”.
The statement from the Chapter was in commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, which is an international observation declared by the United Nations.
The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender.