‘We feared social media would push us out of business’ — Jide Kosoko

Veteran Nollywood actor, Jide Kosoko, has recalled how the arrival of social media initially unsettled older entertainment practitioners who feared the technology could render them irrelevant.

Kosoko said the industry’s older generation was initially unsure about how social media would affect their careers when the platforms began gaining prominence.

“When social media came, we were afraid. Is this not going to kick us out of business? Is this not going to kick us out completely?” he said in an interview with Sunday Scoop.

The actor said the industry eventually adapted to the new technology, with younger colleagues helping older practitioners navigate the digital space.

“But, I must say that eventually, we were able to scale through by virtue of the fact that most of our junior colleagues are computer literate, unlike people like us,” he said.

Kosoko added that social media eventually became a useful tool for the older generation rather than the threat they initially feared.

“We eventually used it to our advantage, so we have to thank God for that,” he said.

However, he admitted that the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence has presented a different challenge, saying he has yet to fully understand the technology.

“When I started seeing AI, I still don’t understand it till now,” Kosoko said.

His comments highlight the pace of technological change in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where established practitioners have had to adapt from traditional media to social platforms, while artificial intelligence introduces another wave of changes to the creative sector.