The landscape of politics in Pakistan has turned rapidly over the past few years. Its biggest arena is no longer the parliament or the streets but social media. Today every political party’s first front is Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The fights, propaganda and trade-offs that take place there have become so powerful that many people feel real politics is now controlled from a mobile screen. The question is: is this change helpful for shaping public opinion, or is it creating constant mental fatigue.
Pakistan’s political temperament has always been heated, emotional and intense, but the extraordinary increase in its pace over the last few years is not due to rallies or TV talk shows – it is social media. A platform that was once used for entertainment, information and connection has become a full-blown battlefield. Words are fired like artillery, trends behave like cannon shots, psychological campaigns function like missiles, and fake news has become a chemical weapon that affects the whole nation. The question is: does this war create political awareness among the public, or does it increase mental exhaustion, disorder and hatred
Social media has introduced several positive changes to Pakistan’s political world. For example, any citizen can now convey their voice directly to those in power. A person living in a remote village can share a problem about their road or education on social media in seconds – it often goes viral, the media reports it, and officials sometimes have to take notice. It has empowered people, given them freedom of expression, and forced political parties to be accountable. That is why nearly every party in Pakistan now runs its social media cell very seriously, and every narrative appears on screens before it appears in rallies.
But the darker side of this picture is worrying. Social media politics has increased division, anger and intolerance in society. Where disagreements were not treated as ignorance before, now people pounce on each other over small things. Political parties’ social media teams work day and night running campaigns against each other – sometimes a “thief” hashtag trends, sometimes “traitor,” sometimes an old edited video is circulated, and sometimes someone’s personal life is targeted. It seems the nation has begun to rely more on mockery than reason, more on hatred than investigation. This constant online warfare has mentally exhausted the public. Persistent tension has weakened people’s nerves, especially the youth who use social media the most. They are starting to see politics not as a disciplined, national responsibility, but as a platform for fights, abuse and trolling. Psychologically, anger, irritability, anxiety and mental stress are on the rise.
A major problem is fake news – social media’s greatest weapon. Here every story is readily believed: a picture, a clip, a forged document can reach millions in minutes. Political groups or malicious actors sometimes deliberately spread misinformation to shape public opinion in their favor. Ordinary people cannot tell truth from lies, so fake news spreads like an epidemic across society. The damage is not only political – it is personal too – leaving people in constant confusion, anger and uncertainty.
Social media has changed the style of politics. Previously parties focused on manifestos, policy and on-the-ground work, but now emphasis is on narratives. One tweet by a leader spawns hundreds of videos, talk shows and trends; real issues – health, education, employment, economy – fall behind, and politics advances by stirring emotions rather than strengthening public awareness. Social media fights emotions more than ideas. That is not to deny that social media is powerful – that power has influenced many decisions. Authorities sometimes have to act under public pressure on issues like inflation, taxes and blatant rule-breaking. A large portion of the public now listens to political voices via social media.
But the question remains: have people used this power positively Have we used it for national benefit Have we deployed it for scholarly debate, justice, transparency and development – or have we turned it into an emotional weapon that weakens our own nation.
The solution is clear but implementation seems difficult. Users of social media must adopt the principles of dignity, reason and verification. Fake news must be met with strict action so that nobody’s honor is harmed. Digital literacy must be increased among the public so people think, research and verify before sharing. Media literacy should be included in educational curricula – it is a necessity of the times. Young people must be taught that social media is a weapon and a responsibility: if used with awareness, it brings progress; if used to inflame emotions, it creates disorder.
Social media is now part of our lives and cannot be ended, but it can be improved. Share your conversations, columns and writings for knowledge and reform, not for hatred. Use it for national consensus instead of political warfare. That is how social media can make Pakistan a stronger citizenry and a united nation.
