NIGERIA: Jumoke Odetola Speaks Up on Clout Chasing on Social Media

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Nollywood actress expresses frustration over lack of emotional intelligence online

Award-winning Nollywood actress and producer, Jumoke Odetola, has voiced out her concerns over the growing trend of clout chasing on social media, describing it as mentally draining.

In an Instagram post, Odetola lamented the lack of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and social awareness among users, stating that the online space has become overwhelming with people who do not know where to draw the line.

She expressed her exhaustion over experiencing secondhand embarrassment from individuals she neither knows nor interacts with. Seeking solace, she turned to God, praying for the grace to ignore negativity and remain unbothered by issues that do not concern her.

She wrote; “If you still have common sense, emotional intelligence, social awareness, and self-awareness, I bet you don’t realize how blessed you are,” she wrote. “The irony is, it’s a blessing wrapped in thorns, as those who lack these basic qualities can be incredibly frustrating. You will be getting embarrassed on behalf of people who don’t even know or care about you.”

Concluding her post with a plea to God, she added: “Dear God, please save me from the burden that isn’t mine. Grant me the grace to look away, be unbothered, and not spend hours pondering on the embarrassment that isn’t mine.”

Odetola’s post has sparked conversations among her followers, with many agreeing that social media has become a ground for insensitivity and the pursuit of validation.

Some praised her for speaking out, while others shared similar frustrations about the online culture.