Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has recalled how the emergence of social media initially made older entertainment practitioners fear that the new technology could eventually push them out of the industry.

Kosoko said the concern eventually gave way to adaptation as younger, computer-literate colleagues helped older practitioners understand and make use of the technology.

Key Development

• Jide Kosoko recalled the uncertainty among older entertainment practitioners when social media emerged.
• He said many feared the technology would “kick” them out of business.
• Kosoko explained that younger colleagues helped them adapt because they were more familiar with computers.
• He said the industry eventually learned to use social media to its advantage.
• The veteran actor also admitted that he still does not fully understand artificial intelligence (AI).

Kosoko Recalls Fear Over Social Media

Speaking during an interview with Punch, Kosoko reflected on the initial reaction of some older entertainment practitioners to the emergence of social media.

According to the veteran actor, the technology created uncertainty among people who were accustomed to the industry’s older ways of working.

He recalled that many wondered whether social media would eventually make their roles in the entertainment industry unnecessary.

“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?”

Kosoko said the situation later changed as practitioners gradually learned how to work with the new technology.

How Older Practitioners Adapted

Kosoko attributed part of that adjustment to the support of younger colleagues who were more familiar with computers and digital technology.

He explained that people of his generation were able to adapt with the help of their younger colleagues, many of whom were already comfortable using computers.

“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.”

Rather than remaining a threat to their careers, Kosoko said social media eventually became something they could use to their advantage.

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

From Social Media To Artificial Intelligence

Kosoko’s reflection on social media also led him to discuss the emergence of another major technology: artificial intelligence.

While he said his generation eventually adapted to social media, the actor admitted that AI remains difficult for him to understand.

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

His comment highlights the continuing technological changes taking place across the entertainment industry, where practitioners are encountering new digital tools after already adapting to the rise of social media.

What Kosoko’s Experience Shows

Kosoko’s comments place the current discussion around AI within his personal experience of an earlier technological transition.

The actor recalled that social media was initially viewed with uncertainty by some older practitioners, but the technology eventually became something they could use.

His account also points to the role younger, more computer-literate colleagues played in helping older entertainment professionals adjust to the changing digital environment.

The comments do not establish whether AI will have the same eventual impact on the entertainment industry. Kosoko’s statement instead reflects his own continuing difficulty in understanding the technology.

Jide Kosoko’s Career Perspective

As a veteran Nollywood actor, Kosoko has experienced significant changes in the entertainment industry during his career.

His recollection therefore provides a personal perspective on how practitioners have had to adjust as new technologies entered the industry.

The transition from traditional entertainment practices to social media was one such change, while the emergence of AI represents another stage in the industry’s continuing technological development.

The Bigger Picture

Kosoko’s experience illustrates how technological changes can initially create uncertainty before practitioners find ways to adapt.

For his generation, social media eventually became a tool they could use rather than simply a technology they feared would replace them.

Now, with AI becoming increasingly prominent, Kosoko finds himself once again observing a technology that he says he has yet to fully understand.

For now, his comments offer a personal reflection on the difference between fearing technological change and eventually learning how to work with it.