The cost of social media

In recent years, the social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook, have gained massive public popularity from youth. But most recently, the politicisation of social media has taken place rapidly, especially after emergence of Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from the core of these social media groups. Imran Khan’s massive public gatherings and his emergence as “the third option” has proved one thing that social media do have an impact on ‘realpolitick’.

It is a giant: uncontrolled and unmonitored and can affect both the “media” and policymaking and the worse of all it can cause anarchy and can be easily used to manipulate a big section of our educated class.

Try stalking any political, religious, ethnic issue on any forum; it will be full of confident “pseudo intellects”, bombarding ideas (mostly baseless or based on unseen myths) and virtually fighting amongst each other. In a country like Pakistan which has been a home of ethnic, religious and political conflicts, such a situation can deepen the impact of these ethno-religious grievances which may result in long term poisoning of our sensitive youth.

Our youth is educated, but what exactly is that education? Are issues related to dominance of Punjab, sectarian violence, ethnic conflicts, inter-provincial grievances, Talibanisation, ever been a part of our curriculum? These issues have been absent from the mainstream debates, even the media tries to neutralise their impact.

Now imagine their impact when they go unobstructed to our emotionally sensitive youth, with much greater intensity and often with misleading ‘facts’ and realities. Policymakers need to be worried about this slow poisoning or should be ready to face their consequences in the long run.

MUHAMMAD NOWKHAIZ

LUMS, Lahore