SAMAR FATANY Researchers at the Dubai School of Government released a study recently on social media in the Arab world. According to the report, Saudis are the most active social media users in the Arab region, with an estimated 393,000 using Twitter and nearly four million using Facebook. In Saudi Arabia the rapid rise of social media has increased civic awareness and youth engagement in public affairs, and its popularity has introduced new social dynamics. It has become an essential tool in the lives of many people and has emerged as one of the main methods of networking and social interaction between individuals, businesses and government. Young Saudis today debate all sorts of issues on social media and use it as a tool to enable their voices to reach officials and to network and connect with people who share their interests and activities. They are not afraid to express their frustrations and to criticize officials or the negative behavior and attitudes of ultraconservatives in society who do not support change and modernity. Citizen journalism has gained popularity and young people have become more eager to voice their opinions and to influence change for a better future. They can no longer tolerate being led by the incompetent or the hardliners who are insensitive to their needs and concerns. The increasing number of young activists on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube is an indication that young people will become more active and more involved in public affairs. Their level of awareness will make it very difficult for government not to strive harder to remove corruption and the obstacles standing in the way of progress. The conflict between the progressives and the hardliners in society is more prominent online and among social media users. A more healthy, peaceful and constructive national debate needs to be encouraged online and in the print media in order to create harmony and unity among all citizens. People involved in social media have a responsibility to encourage an objective debate that can contribute to the welfare of the country. The hardline position of some elders and the inability to accept criticism is a dangerous phenomenon. Some officials only pay lip service to young people's demands and they trivialize their interaction with young minds. Meanwhile, media professionals have not played an effective role in supporting social cohesion and have taken a mild stand in voicing public opinion. Social media in the Arab world has been instrumental in rallying people around social causes and political campaigns, boosting citizen journalism and civic participation, creating a forum for debate and interaction between governments and their communities, and enhancing innovation and collaboration within government. However, in Saudi Arabia social media tools have been exploited and are often viewed negatively and with suspicion. Many fail to recognize the contributions of social media toward unity, social harmony and economic growth. The Arab Social Media Report lays emphasis on the potential for increasing collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation, both between and among government entities, citizens and the private sector. Social networking businesses have become an important asset for the most successful companies; they connect more than 550 million people globally, and provide an infrastructure for thousands of start-ups and social entrepreneurs. It would be more constructive to explore the creative potential of social media to build diverse businesses and services rather than to undermine or censure its contributions to its large and increasing audience. Bloggers and Facebook users have become more outspoken in criticizing the policies that affect their lives and the progress of their country. Others will not give up their right to tweet their criticism of policies that affect their lives or the negligence of officials who are responsible for social or economic problems. Censorship and suppression belong to the past. Young people today demand to be heard, and they will not give up their right to express their opinion without political or social restrictions. It is critical at this stage to encourage a more objective and constructive national debate within social media and to positively engage the younger generation. It is equally important to recognize the increasing power of social media and its capacity to mobilize thousands of citizen journalists at any given time. Above all it is very important not to underestimate the influence of social media at home and around the world. — Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
