The Olodo Uprising and the Price of Attention

<h3>No generation is ever forgotten. It is remembered for what it chooses to celebrate.</h3> When the “Olodo Uprising” flooded my timeline, I laughed. Like millions of Nigerians, I watched the clips, memes, and arguments. Some mocked those involved; others defended them as simply being authentic. Then I asked myself: What if the real story isn't about those going viral, but about those applauding them?That question changed everything. We often frame this debate as ignorance versus authenticity. But I think the deeper problem is attention. For generations, Nigerian parents have told us, “Read your books.” They sacrifice to pay school fees because they believe knowledge creates opportunity. Yet today, a carefully researched article can struggle for attention while a thirty-second mistake attracts millions of views. This does not mean we have stopped valuing education. It means we have started rewarding visibility differently. Social media did not create ignorance. It simply amplified what we choose to watch. The algorithm does not ask, “Is this true?” It asks, “Will people engage?” And we are part of that system. We blame creators, influencers, and algorithms, but trends survive because we watch, share, comment, and celebrate them. Every view is a vote.Every repost is a recommendation. If ignorance becomes profitable, society has helped create the market.But ignorance itself is not the enemy. Curiosity is its antidote. Not knowing is the beginning of learning. Every expert was once a beginner. The real danger begins when asking questions becomes embarrassing, admitting mistakes becomes weakness, and changing one's mind becomes shameful. We should therefore reward curiosity, humility, and the courage to learn. Creators have a responsibility too. Entertainment and education are not enemies. We need people who can make us laugh and make us think. Schools and families must also strengthen media literacy so that we learn not merely to consume information but to question it. Perhaps the question was never whether we are rewarding ignorance or authenticity.The real question is<blockquote>What are you rewarding every time you watch, share, like, or laugh? </blockquote>Because every click is a choice. Every share tells someone what deserves attention, and collectively, our choices decide what becomes valuable. So, the next time ignorance goes viral, perhaps we should ask ourselves, "Why are they like this?" rather than "Why are we making this worth celebrating?" We cannot complain about the culture we continue to feed. If attention is currency, then we are the ones who spend it. Perhaps the generation that changes the story will not stop laughing, entertaining, or being authentic. The generation that learns to ask, "What deserves my attention and what kind of society am I building by giving it?” <blockquote>Note: Before you scroll past this, ask yourself: what are you helping the world celebrate?</blockquote>

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