By Khalifa Usman 300-lvl Mass Comm
ABU Campus Press organizes an annual awareness walk to address several communication-related issues affecting the ABU community. June 28, 2025, marked a turning point in the history of these campaigns, as it was well-organized and the topic was both interesting and highly educative. The campaign focused on how students can protect themselves online and avoid activities that may endanger their digital lives. It also aimed to educate them on the consequences of misinformation, disinformation, free Wi-Fi usage, and various issues related to online privacy and security.
Until this morning, I never imagined the campaign could be this inspiring. If similar initiatives were held more widely across our society, they could greatly help curtail the spread of fake news and prevent data breaches. Such efforts would also make people safer in today’s digital world. Although numerous articles have been written on these issues, they often seem ineffective especially among our generation. Most students prefer TikToking, Facebooking, and Instagramming over reading, unless it’s exam season. This campaign provided a perfect avenue to engage the community meaningfully. Today’s campaign was the epitome of that effort.
Addressing these issues through this campaign was important. It was very engaging, and the messages were delivered in simple, clear language. Multiple languages were even used at times to ensure accessibility and understanding. Initially, many people were reluctant to listen, but the campaign’s organization and the enthusiasm of the speakers eventually drew their attention, and they ultimately received the messages.
What made this campaign especially remarkable was its structure. People gathered at the Department of Mass Communication, ABU, and then began walking through various departments. The campaign was accompanied by an MP3 speaker playing music to make the event more lively and enjoyable. At every hostel or corner we stopped at, a speaker addressed a specific topic. The campaign was both informative and engaging. Here are some of the key points discussed:
1. Think Before You Post
In the past, the spread of fake news was less rampant due to the lack of advanced platforms. However, with the rise of social media, citizen journalists now have the opportunity to share news whether verified or not at the click of a button. Many people don’t critically assess the information they post, often in a bid to appear as first-hand sources. Before sharing any content, one should ask: Is this information true? Does it align with journalistic ethics? Unfortunately, many people are unaware of these questions, let alone how to answer them. Thankfully, ABU Campus Press addressed these issues in detail, explaining the dangers of thoughtless posting.
2. Free Wi-Fi Is Not Safe
Due to economic hardship, many people tend to connect to any available Wi-Fi network, which is highly risky. Most public Wi-Fi networks lack encryption, allowing anyone within range to intercept and read network traffic. Worse still, hackers can set up fake Wi-Fi with familiar names to trick users into connecting. This point was clearly explained during the campaign.
3. Be a Cyber Expert
Not everyone who uses the internet or social media is a cyber expert. Many people move into online activities without understanding how to secure their digital presence—posting, clicking, sharing, and liking blindly. In this era of deception and widespread data access, it is necessary for internet users to acquire skills to protect their systems, networks, and data from attacks.
These were some of the great points addressed during the campaign.
To better tackle these issues within the ABU community, adopting this campaign model is needed. Thousands of students and staff were sensitised on digital safety; how to think before posting, avoid public Wi-Fi, become cyber-aware, and protect networks from attacks. Fortunately, many people benefited from the campaign and even expressed their appreciation openly.
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