RIB Warns Rwandan Youth Over Risks of Sharing Personal Lives Online.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has urged young people to be more careful about what they post on social media, warning that online content can follow them for years and potentially affect future generations.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry gave the warning while speaking to young people in Musanze District following a special Umuganda activity organised as part of a campaign against illicit alcohol known locally as “ibyuma.”
Murangira cautioned young people against using social media to publicly share sensitive details about their personal lives, saying some experiences they post online could later cause embarrassment or other consequences for their children.
“Social media was not created for you to go and talk about your personal problems. There are things you have gone through that your child should not know about [...] The internet never forgets. You do not know who has what you post, you do not know when they may bring it back or when they may use it against you [...] Strive to leave a good legacy on social media so that your descendants will not be ashamed of what you posted,” he said.
The RIB spokesperson also urged young people to avoid using social media in ways that could expose them to criminal offences.
He questioned why people engage online in behaviour they would avoid in public.
“What you would not do in public, why would you go and do it on social media? Someone insults others and is even paid for it,” Murangira said.
His remarks come amid growing efforts by authorities to encourage young people to use digital platforms responsibly while avoiding harmful or unlawful content.
Murangira also highlighted the positive opportunities offered by social media, encouraging young people to use the platforms constructively rather than focusing on harmful or inappropriate content.
He noted that the government continues to invest in technology and digital infrastructure to make online services more accessible and useful to citizens.
The RIB spokesperson encouraged young people to think carefully about the long-term consequences of their online activities, particularly because content shared on the internet can remain accessible long after it is posted.
