About the Author(s)
Ayesha Khalid and Ayesha Noor are studying for their Bachelor’s in Physics at Fatima Jinnah Women University. They are enthusiastic about exploring the connection between social media and social movements, particularly interested in how digital platforms contribute to cultural revolutions.
Introduction:
Media and culture are interconnected and interlinked with each other forming a complex network. Indeed, media refers to a platform or channel for communication where people share information, thoughts, and ideas with others. In the digital age, online media has made it possible for people to connect and interlink with each other across geographical boundaries. Media platforms include newspapers, television, radio and magazines. Culture defines your lifestyle, traditions, events, uniqueness and daily life. “People from very backward areas, who are not allowed to access social media due to lack of education and religious reasons, also come to social media to represent their culture. They do everything, and when they come to social media, they diverge into two directions: positive and negative. In the positive direction, they build a positive fan following through their culture, build confidence, become financially independent, and raise awareness about their culture, telling people what their culture is and who they are.
On the other hand, some people go in the negative direction, indulging in bold clothing and harmful activities, which is against their cultural and religious values, thus connecting culture and media in this way.” Firstly, we need to understand our media and culture. If we overuse something, it can be harmful, and if we underuse it, it can also be harmful. We need to take everything to a moderate level so that we can avoid its negative effects. What I mean is that if we use social media excessively, it can dominate our minds and have a significant impact on us. And if we completely avoid social media in today’s digital era, it can also have negative consequences. We should use everything in moderation and set limits for ourselves so that we can navigate this digital era effectively. In simpler terms: “We need to strike a balance in our use of media and technology. Too much or too little of it can be harmful. We should use it in moderation and set boundaries to avoid its negative effects and thrive in today’s digital age. We should understand our culture before engaging with media and use it within our limits. This way, both our culture and media remain respected and safe. Media and culture aren’t inherently bad; it’s our usage and behavior that makes them so. We must be mindful and responsible in our actions and thoughts.
Examples:
- Social media has impacted Pashtun families, particularly Pashtun girls, by introducing global influences that challenge traditional values. While social media offers opportunities for self-expression and connection, it also raises concerns about cultural erosion and online harassment. Pashtun families must navigate this digital landscape to balance modernity with cultural heritage. Punjabi culture: In Punjab, families often scold or punish their daughters for being active on social media.
- Sindhi culture: In Sindh, families may disown their daughters or throw them out of the house for being active on social media.
- Pashtun culture: In Pashtun society, families may even kill their daughters in the name of honor for being active on social media.
- Bengali culture: In Bengal, families often restrict their daughters’ access to social media or scold them for being active online.
- Gujarati culture: In Gujarat, families may disown their daughters or restrict their freedom for being active on social media.
Advantages and Disadvantages according to Critical thinking :
Social media provides a platform for people from backward areas to showcase their talent and creativity.
- Social media helps build individuals’ confidence.
- Social media helps individuals become financially independent.
- Social media is an important tool for cultural representation.
- Social media helps spread awareness.
- Social media helps dispel misconceptions and myths.
- People who misuse social media not only harm their own culture but also spoil the platform.
- Their pursuit of money leads them to engage in negative activities, such as wearing bold clothes or promoting harmful content.
- This behavior spoils their culture and exposes them to even more negative influences.
- The negative impact affects both social media and culture, trapping individuals in a harmful cycle. This cycle is difficult to escape, causing harm to their own culture and the online community. It is essential to be mindful of our actions on social media and promote positivity and respect for our culture.
- Responsible social media usage can prevent the spread of negativity and preserve cultural values.
- By being aware of our online actions, we can protect our culture and maintain a positive online environment.
- Social media should be used to promote cultural understanding, not to harm it.
Problems:
- People who misuse social media not only harm their own culture but also spoil the platform.
- Their pursuit of money leads them to engage in negative activities, such as wearing bold clothes or promoting harmful content.
- This behavior spoils their culture and exposes them to even more negative influences.
- The negative impact affects both social media and culture, trapping individuals in a harmful cycle.
- This cycle is difficult to escape, causing harm to their own culture and the online community.
- It is essential to be mindful of our actions on social media and promote positivity and respect for our culture
- They kill their children and their own daughters in the name of honour after they come back from abroad.
- Social media promotes fake accounts and impersonation, damaging the reputation of Pashtun individuals.
- Online radicalization and extremism are promoted through social media.
Solutions:
“The solution is for the government to maintain a balance. They should hire people to supervise online content and take instant action against harmful content from foreign sources. This will prevent conflicts related to religion and media, promoting harmony and peace. To raise awareness, various campaigns should be organized to educate people on how to use media and culture responsibly. Establish a national council to promote media literacy and cultural awareness. Develop educational programs to teach responsible social media usage. Encourage social media platforms to adopt community guidelines and moderation policies.
Conclusion:
To harmonize social media and culture, the government should take a multifaceted approach. This includes monitoring and removing harmful content, imposing penalties on those who create it, and educating users on responsible social media usage. Additionally, encouraging social media platforms to adopt community guidelines and moderation policies is crucial. Collaboration between the government, social media companies, and civil society is also vital to address online harms. Finally, supporting research on social media’s impact on culture and society will help inform effective policies. By implementing these measures, we can foster a positive and responsible coexistence of social media and culture, promoting harmony, peace, and preserving cultural values for future generation.
References:
• McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. MIT Press, 1994.
• Castells, Manuel. The Rise of the Network Society. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010
• https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/48649_ch_11.pdf
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_culture
• https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/the-double-edged-sword-of-social-media
• https://spinetimes.pk/social-media-a-double-edged-sword/
