Since the advent of social media it has transformed the way of life and has opened door to resist against forced stoppage of information. In this advance stage of information technology, you cannot block, deny or stop the flow of information. The more you suppress it shall bounce back with full force. Social media allows everyone unhindered access to information to stay current what is happening in the world anywhere and in your own country. What you need a high grade mobile phone with high speed internet facility. This will get you the access anywhere in the world over in milli seconds. Therefore, no amount of coercive methods and blocking system arranging fire balls, denying internet access, closing of twitter etc. will help to control it. Efforts have been made to control criticism and propaganda against government and top leaders of the country and establishment through cyber act and PECA laws with partial success, but that has caused colossal loss to cellular companies and internet service providers. The handlers of social media mostly are located in different countries out of Pakistan making it difficult to lay hands on them because they keep changing their identities and location. Pakistan due to its typical system of governance facing difficulties in controlling and catching the culprits spreading negativity against state and leaders. The government has created own social media teams and spending huge money to counter their propaganda with partial success. But at the same time it is very painful to mention that social media platform is being grossly misused by both sides for character assassination of personalities without any fear of law. Teams on both sides use very abusive language and cross all limits of decency. Crossing of red lines has become matter of routine and nobody is pushed about laws and that is doing no good to anybody.
It is true that social media allows people to stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues and various functionaries regardless of geographical locations and distances. Unfortunately, the country has suffered a great deal due to institutional distinctions and selective accountability. It has destroyed respect of human values. On the other hand it encourages global collaboration and cultural exchanges. Increases the spread of misinformation and fake news. Overall, social media is a powerful tool with both benefits and challenges. Its impact largely depends on how individuals use it.
As per data available in 2005, about 7 percent of American adults used social media. But by 2017, 80 percent of American adults used Facebook alone. About 3.5 billion people on the planet, out of 7.7 billion, are active social media participants. Globally, during a typical day, people post 500 million tweets, share over 10 billion pieces of Facebook content, and watch over a billion hours of YouTube video. As social media platforms have grown, along with the benefits of easy connectivity and increased information, social media has also become a vehicle for disinformation and political attacks from beyond sovereign borders. Social media disrupts our elections, our economy, and our health. Why social media platforms have become so successful yet so problematic. What can we do about it. The researchers found that on Twitter, from 2006 to 2017, false news stories were 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than true ones. Why? Most likely because false news has greater novelty value compared to the truth, and provokes stronger reactions – especially disgust and surprise. In this light, the essential tension surrounding social media companies is that their platforms gain audiences and revenue when posts provoke strong emotional responses, often based on dubious content. Certainly social media is fertile terrain for misinformation campaigns. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, it is alleged Russia spread false information to at least 126 million people on Facebook and another 20 million people on Instagram (which Facebook owns), and was responsible for 10 million tweets. About 44 percent of adult Americans visited a false news source in the final weeks of the campaign. It is not known if Russia’s efforts altered the outcome of the 2016 election but its negative effects makes sense. Question arises what should be done. Its best solution lies in allowing people to air their feelings, allow its use unhindered. By stopping we do no good because they use alternate means available in abundance of course with increased cost. It is time to review our policies because blocking serves no useful purpose. With the passage of time people shall reject those elements and sanity shall prevail. However, it can be said categorically that social media war has destroyed peace of mind, created great rift. The dangerous aspect is that it has resulted into deeper confrontation and both sides are facing character assassination of their own and families.
