Nigerian singer and actor Idowu Adeyemi, popularly known as Yhemolee, has voiced his frustration over the growing trend of begging on social media, calling it a troubling shift from the platforms’ original purpose of connection and creativity.
In a recent social media post, Yhemolee criticized the increasing number of individuals who use online platforms primarily to solicit financial assistance, often from people they barely know.
According to him, the problem lies not just in occasional requests for help but in what he described as a new wave of users who have “mastered the art of begging.”
“It’s no longer news that social media isn’t social media anymore. It’s now a begging site,” he wrote. “The only difference is that unlike the beggars on the road, the beggars on the internet have data.”
The actor noted that it has become common to see users drop bank account numbers in the comment sections of posts, regardless of the content being shared.
“These days, when you post a picture, the first ten comments are account numbers,” he lamented. “My major problem is those who have a PhD in begging. Please omit all those begging from my own picture.”
Yhemolee’s comments have sparked conversations online, with some users agreeing that digital begging has become excessive, while others defended it as a reflection of the economic hardship many Nigerians face.
The entertainer first rose to fame with his hit song “Mon Cheri” featuring Chinko Ekun and Asake, and has since gained popularity for his acting roles in Nollywood blockbusters such as “Gangs of Lagos” and “Alakada: Bad and Boujee.”
With his remarks, Yhemolee joins a growing list of Nigerian celebrities speaking out about the changing culture of social media and the need to restore authenticity and creativity to online interactions.
