Last week in a Alternative Media conference, shared my view regarding the new media. It was organized by HBF Pakistan chapter who moved from Lhore to Islamabad recently. Then i wrote a piece in Dunya newspaper. read both and enjoy
How new media effects political culture
People’s perspective
(For discussion)
Aamir Riaz
Controlling a society or
individual is an ancient desire. From tribal and religious institutions till
the birth of Nation States, religious leaders, bureaucrats’ bala bala want to
control our minds. From family to State, it has numerous faces but its
epicenter is THE CONTROL. By default Creativity & innovation (especially
knowledge & technology) are against the CONTROL.
From slave civilizations till
the era of Nation States , we the inhabitants of the world are wandering in search
of Freedom and till to date we are not ready to compromise on it. The new media
is linked with individual freedom and that is why we are celebrating it.
The train and telegram were
19th century devices while the radio, television was introduced to
the public domain in the 20th century
and the internet, Facebook, YouTube, mobile apps, tablets, kindle, blogging bala
bala are all advents of the 21st century.
Till the first half of 20th
century,
by & large, print media had enjoyed the status of being the sole catalyst agent
in the world, but, with the introduction of new technology and new inventions,
by the second half of the 20th Century
electronic media had taken over that role by quite an extent. Now in the 21st
century
social media (digital world) has snatched the place of print as well as
electronic media. Unlike print and electronic media this new media (social
media) is interactive, accessible, and environmental friendly and all the more
relatively freer from the interests and pressures of business tycoons and heavy
baggage of Nation States.
Like political parties, it
has to rely on the Public at large and one can call this, a media ‘of the
people, by the people and for the people.’ Neither an iron curtain nor a filthy
rich capitalist or super power can restrict it. As there is no segregation in
the name of religion, ideology, nationalism or any social binding so at social
media everyone can interact.
Since the early 1990s,
political parties in Pakistan have used internet to expand their propaganda and
this use has only increased since the beginning of the 21st
century.
The start of this century has marked the use of the internet by every political
party in Pakistan. They have been using social media, sometimes as a party
policy and in many cases political workers and individuals using it as an independent
political act. Just 30 years ago, mainstream print and electronic media were
under strict governmental control, so political parties or their workers had
rely on wall chalking, posters, pamphlets, leaflets, booklets, unregistered
magazines, but now in this digital world with the ‘blessings’ of social media
they have not only new spaces but these spaces are in the use of youth.
Pakistan is passing through youth bulge and through the social media political
parties are developing their inroads in the youth. Either we like it or not but
these new trends are nurturing a new political culture in which individuals
have unprecedented powers and freedom.
In short, the social media
has created new spaces at social & political front and engaged youth with
high politics. It has connected the youth not only with the international
community but also helping them to understand social, cultural, linguistic,
economic & political diversity . From the people’s perspective emergence of
this new media is important and it is another form of alternative media.
Last not the least
During 20th
century
knowledge & technology were under the subordination of Nation state. During
hot, cold and proxy wars under “liberal interpretations” Nation states have
expanded their CONTROL immensely not only within societies but also in
different continents. But 21st century is
an era of globalization. So theories like regional inter-dependencies and soft
borders are knocking at our doors. It is neither end of History nor Clash of
civilizations but beginning of the end of CONTROL. Social media is representing
this change. As it is in teens so it is enjoying all teenage disadvantages too.
SOME LESSONS
• No one can monopolize it
• No breaking news culture
• No one way traffic
• No anchor
• Facility to unfriend people
• More faster than electronic media
• Facility to report abuse
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