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Click, Connections and Interfaith Harmony

31 0
30.08.2026

The digital media, in contemporary times, has evolved into a significant social institution which not only spreads a stream of collective information but actively shapes the media consumer`s perception and their identities. This transformation is more consequential in diverse societies like Pakistan, where multifaceted socio-cultural and religious identities intersect in an intricate way. The progression from legacy media to a digital public sphere, leveraged by social media, has essentially altered the dimensions of public discourse by creating opportunities and challenges for interfaith harmony. The operationalisation of the public sphere, as succinctly articulated by Jürgen Habermas, denotes the space in which citizens are involved in rational and critical debates that may influence their social and political life. Traditionally, this public sphere was limited to physical spaces i.e., cafeterias and public forums, that are easily accessible to a limited section of society. However, in Pakistan, the traditional public spheres were often shaped by selective narratives that somehow under-representedthe marginalized communities.

The rise of digital media (also social media) has afforded the public sphere to other segments of the society on the narrative of “inclusion.”

Online platforms such as social media sites, blogs, and online discussion forums have augmented participation, allowing individuals from different backgrounds to express their point of view and disrupt the “spiral of silence.”

The operationalisation of the public sphere, as succinctly articulated by Jürgen Habermas, denotes the space in which citizens are involved in rational and critical debates that may influence their social and........

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