A few years ago, a video showing secondary school students exchanging greetings in a manner linked to cult groups would have sparked immediate concern.
Today, such videos often circulate online as entertainment. They attract jokes, comments, shares and debates before anyone pauses to ask a more important question: what exactly are young people learning, and who is influencing them?
A recent video that trended on social media has once again brought this issue into focus. In the clip, students were seen exchanging greetings many online users described as resembling cult-style handshakes and mannerisms.
There is no evidence that the students involved belong to any cult group. Yet the reactions that followed reveal a growing concern among parents, teachers and education stakeholders about the values shaping today’s teenagers.
The conversation is bigger than one viral video.
It is about a generation growing up in an era where influence travels faster than ever, often beyond the reach of parents and schools.
For many Nigerians, the incident also brought back memories of the celebrations that followed the 2026 WASSCE examinations. Videos of students spraying drinks, jumping on moving vehicles and engaging in risky behaviour circulated widely online. While many dismissed the scenes as youthful excitement, others saw them as signs of a deeper problem.
The question is no longer whether young people are celebrating. Young people have always celebrated milestones.
The concern is whether some behaviours that once raised red flags are gradually becoming normal.
For decades, discussions about cultism were largely associated with universities and other tertiary institutions. Secondary schools were rarely mentioned in such conversations.
That reality appears to be changing.
Education experts have repeatedly warned that unhealthy group behaviour often starts long before students reach university. It may begin with imitation, peer pressure, a desire to belong or the attraction of appearing powerful among friends.
What starts as a greeting, a symbol or a nickname may not necessarily lead to cultism. However, such behaviours can sometimes reflect a culture that glorifies secrecy, intimidation and group superiority.
Social media has complicated the situation.
Today’s teenagers consume content from multiple platforms every day. Music videos, movies, online skits and influencer content often promote images of toughness, dominance and street credibility. Young people absorb these messages, sometimes without fully understanding their implications.
In many cases, they imitate what they see simply because it appears popular.
This places a greater responsibility on schools.
Education is not only about passing examinations. Schools are expected to shape character, teach values and prepare students for responsible citizenship.
Guidance and counselling units, extracurricular activities, leadership programmes and value-based education have become more important than ever. Students need safe spaces where they can discuss peer pressure, identity and the challenges they face while growing up.
Parents also have a role to play.
Many warning signs do not appear suddenly. They often emerge through changes in behaviour, friendships, language and interests. Maintaining open communication with children may help families identify concerns before they become bigger problems.
The viral video may disappear from public attention in a few days, just like many social media trends do.
But the questions it raises should not disappear with it.
Whether it is cult-style greetings, dangerous online trends or other forms of imitation, the challenge facing educators today goes beyond the classroom. It is about helping young people distinguish between what is merely popular and what is truly right.
As schools prepare students for the future, perhaps the conversation should not be about condemning teenagers for every viral moment. It should be about understanding what those moments reveal and ensuring that the values being passed on are strong enough to guide them long after the cameras are gone.
