Mavo has been in hot water over the last few days for derogatory comments he made about his Afrobeat colleagues and other Nigerian celebrities when he was a rookie musician and a teenager.
While Mavo’s tweets caused an uproar on Twitter, it is not the first time an artist’s old tweets have been unearthed during the heat of their fame, and it has us wondering: should digital footprints matter to Nigerian celebrities? Or should freedom of speech be applicable in their call-outs?
Why should digital footprints matter?
There are many reasons why everyone intending to build a career that involves becoming a public figure should be careful with their digital footprint; some are below.
- Lasting Impressions
For people like Mavo and BNXN, whose old tweets surfaced after they became well-known and had interacted with the artists they had previously criticised, those posts never fade away and continue to resurface.
With Mavo, the resurfaced tweets were from years ago but have now created a lasting impression of his personality and have caused him to lose some fans and listeners.
- Job Opportunities & Brand Perception
A bad digital footprint could affect a person’s chances of working with a brand or a personality they may have slandered in the past. While they may reach out to apologise, the time for an apology may very well be gone. In a profession that requires social perception, people listen to their fans and do not associate with other personalities who have made an impression by slandering them or saying hurtful things about them.
Brands tend to avoid celebrities with a bad digital footprint. Before an endorsement deal is proposed to a public personality, research is done on their digital footprint, and a toxic one not only turns the brand away but, even if the brand chooses to overlook it, the brand’s fans will not.
- Contradictory Outlook & Accountability
A celebrity who has turned their life around and has a public image of being a kind person will face scrutiny and backlash when old comments resurface, as they lack the right digital footprint. Past public statements and social media activity can be scrutinised in legal investigations or defamation claims if they cross into harassment, hate speech, or criminal liability.
The Problem With Policing Free Speech
Although a negative digital footprint can harm the careers and public perception of these celebrities, asking people interested in a social career not to share their opinions can be seen as an infringement of their right to free speech.
However, while free speech is encouraged, it should be exercised in moderation. The celebrities who you have negative opinions of will most likely see your comments, and even when they don’t come in contact with these comments, it paints you in a bad light when you eventually work with these artists.
In addition, another major thing to note is that opinions can change, and while digital footprints are important, tweets made by a teenager should not be used solely to judge their entire belief system when they build a social career.
What do we think?
Free speech and the need to be careful about your digital footprint can co-exist. Everything should be done in moderation, even social commentary, so as not to affect your career in the future or contradict whatever belief system you grow into. It is key to factor in that people change and outgrow certain beliefs, and their old opinions should not be used to judge them if they have shown growth.
