The recent warning issued by the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) about fraudulent housing scams on social media platforms should not be seen as an isolated incident. Rather, it is yet another example of a much larger problem that has been steadily growing in Guyana—a digital environment increasingly dominated by misinformation, manipulation, unverified claims, online hostility, and irresponsible influencers who often operate without accountability.
According to the ministry, scammers have been using unofficial social media channels to contact citizens and solicit payments for house lots and housing allocations. In some cases, young people and minors have reportedly been targeted by these deceptive practices. This development should concern every parent, educator, policymaker and responsible citizen. No society that values the wellbeing of its children should allow young people to become targets of online manipulation, misinformation, fraud or political propaganda.
While social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram have undoubtedly created opportunities for communication, education, business development and creativity, they have also posed serious challenges. The Guyanese public is increasingly seeing how misinformation can spread rapidly across these platforms, often reaching thousands of people before facts can catch up. Rumours, half-truths and outright falsehoods are frequently presented as legitimate news, creating confusion and mistrust within society.
One of the most troubling developments is the rise of influencers who present themselves as representatives of public opinion. Many of these individuals claim to speak on behalf of large sections of the population, yet they are expressing personal opinions, political preferences, ideological positions or private agendas. Through constant posting, live streams and commentary, they often create the impression that their views represent those of the wider Guyanese public, despite little evidence to support such a claim.
Increasingly, social media has become a platform where a relatively small number of individuals dominate discussions and shape narratives. Their content often attracts attention because it is sensational, controversial or emotionally charged. Unfortunately, accuracy and fairness are frequently sacrificed in pursuit of views, shares, followers and engagement.
There is also growing concern about the presence of fake accounts, duplicate profiles and anonymous users across social media platforms. These accounts can create the illusion of widespread support for particular opinions, personalities or causes. In many cases, the public cannot determine whether comments and interactions are from genuine users or from coordinated networks of accounts designed to amplify certain messages.
This phenomenon creates a misleading picture of public opinion and can distort national conversations. Some influencers appear to benefit from this environment by presenting inflated engagement figures as evidence of their popularity or influence. As a result, some public figures, companies and institutions may be led to believe they are reaching vast audiences, even though the actual level of genuine engagement may be significantly lower.
There is also concern that some individuals use social media primarily for personal promotion rather than for public service. Instead of focusing on the organisations, causes, or sectors they represent, they prioritise building their personal brands, increasing their visibility, and advancing their ambitions. In some cases, social media has become less about informing the public and more about cultivating individual celebrity status.
This trend becomes particularly problematic when public figures use these platforms primarily to generate favourable publicity, respond to criticism, or maintain their personal visibility. Such behaviour can distract from substantive issues and divert attention from the institutions and responsibilities they are meant to serve.
Equally concerning is the audience that consumes much of this content. A significant proportion of social media users, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, are young children aged 12 to 14.
Adolescents are still developing the critical-thinking skills needed to distinguish between factual reporting, opinion, advertising, political messaging and misinformation. They are particularly vulnerable to influence from popular online influencers, who often present themselves as trustworthy sources of information.
For this reason, Guyana must seriously consider stronger protections for children online. Many countries around the world are already debating or implementing stricter age-based protections, enhanced parental controls, mandatory age-verification systems, and stronger platform accountability measures. Guyana should not shy away from these discussions.
A serious national conversation should take place about whether children below a certain age should have unrestricted access to social media platforms. The objective would not be to restrict legitimate communication or learning opportunities, but to protect young people from harmful content, online scams, misinformation campaigns, cyberbullying, exploitation and manipulative online behaviour.
At the same time, influencers must be held to higher standards. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and must always be protected. However, it carries responsibilities. It should never be used as a shield to spread misinformation, promote unverified allegations, encourage online harassment, or present personal opinions as facts.
Constructive criticism of governments, institutions and public officials is healthy and necessary in any democratic society. It promotes accountability and transparency. However, there is a clear distinction between legitimate criticism and the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods. When misinformation is repeatedly circulated without evidence, it erodes public trust, weakens social cohesion and fosters an atmosphere of hostility and division.
The reality is that Guyanese social media increasingly resembles a digital jungle where rules are often ignored, accountability is limited, and sensationalism frequently outweighs responsibility.
Some influencers appear willing to say almost anything to attract attention, increase engagement or advance political objectives. The louder and more controversial the content, the more likely it is to attract views and reactions.
Unfortunately, this environment often rewards outrage over truth. It encourages division over dialogue. It promotes emotional reactions over informed discussion.
Citizens must also accept responsibility for their role in the information ecosystem. Every Guyanese should exercise caution before sharing information online. Claims about government programmes, housing allocations, financial transactions or public policy should be verified through official and credible sources. The public should remain vigilant against requests for payments, personal information or sensitive details made via unofficial social media channels.
The ongoing national consultation on social media and its effects on children offers Guyana an important opportunity to address these challenges.
Minister Kwame McCoy and the Government of Guyana should be commended for initiating a national discussion on an issue affecting families, schools, communities, and the country’s future development.
As part of this process, special attention should be paid to the growing influence of online personalities and content creators. The discussion should examine how misinformation spreads, how fake accounts can distort public discourse, how children are exposed to harmful content, and how responsible standards can be encouraged without undermining legitimate freedoms.
Guyana is undergoing unprecedented economic and social transformation. Misinformation, online fraud, fabricated narratives, reckless commentary or digital manipulation should not undermine the country’s progress. Social media should be a tool that supports education, innovation, entrepreneurship, national dialogue and community building.
Instead, too often, it is used by a minority of irresponsible actors to pursue attention, influence, and personal agendas, at the expense of truth and public trust.
The warning from the Housing Ministry is therefore about far more than housing scams. It is a reminder of the broader challenges Guyana faces in the digital age. Protecting children, promoting responsible online behaviour, encouraging digital literacy, and demanding greater accountability from influencers and social media platforms are no longer optional topics—they are national necessities.
The future of Guyana’s digital space must be built on responsibility, transparency and truth. The country cannot afford to allow misinformation, manipulation and irresponsible influence to shape the minds of its young people or the course of its national conversations.