VENEZUELA’s recently re-elected President Nicolás Maduro has banned X; the British prime minister says he would have to look at social media regulations following its use recently for incitement of racial hatred; and the Pakistani military and its acolytes in the media have liberally used the term ‘digital terrorism’.

Regardless of the context of each of these statements, actions, they all point to the fallout from the crumbling monopoly of traditional media over information flows, as more and more people are turning to social media for their news, views and analyses.

Those around the world with a stake in whatever their own particular established order is, are struggling to deal with the challenges this transition is posing. There are no existing rules of engagement in place, whether by consensus or arbitrarily enforced, because the social media has exploded and gained tens of hundreds of millions of users, outpacing any possible legislation or regulation.

Each country, or those in power to be precise, evolves its response reflecting its own unique circumstances. For example, Maduro won the presidential election, but the US establishment does not like the outcome because a left-leaning politician won. Having lived under a US-orchestrated siege for years, Maduro isn’t blameless. His government’s performance could be much better.

Social media is an instant mirror that shows us each our reality.

For its part, the US has put all means at its disposal, including social media, to change the outcome of the election, and this........

© Dawn