Social media for ‘changeÂ’ | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Social media for ‘changeÂ’

Sir: Social media is bringing a revolution to the world but we, the people of Pakistan, are still far from that ‘revolution’. We use social websites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc) just for entertainment. The youth of this land upload their funny photos, videos and tagged pictures and songs from different websites for other friends. On the whole, young people waste a lot of time chatting and on non-serious texting. The ‘miracles’ of social media enabled the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to attain freedom. Movements in Yemen, Syria and other Arab countries are at boiling point, struggling against dynasties and dictatorships. The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement has spread across scores of western countries. But where are we standing?

The death of one labourer brings revolution to Tunisia and sparks a movement throughout the Arab world that is helped by the social media. Why then did the deaths of Raja Khan Rind and Dhani Bux Soho from Nosheroferoz and Nasirabad, Sindh not spark protests, helped by the social media here? Both committed suicide due to unemployment and inflation.

MAQBOOL SANDEELO
Karachi
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/25/2011