Pak under siege of social media |
In Pakistan today, the most contested space is no longer political rallies or television studios.
It is the digital sphere, where narratives are shaped, reputations are made or destroyed and public sentiment can swing dramatically within minutes. Social media, once celebrated for expanding democratic participation, is now increasingly viewed as a force capable of unsettling institutions, deepening divisions and distorting public discourse. The Misinformation Epidemic: The most pressing challenge is the unrestrained flow of misinformation. False claims, edited videos and sensational rumours can gain extraordinary traction before any verification is possible. In a country where institutional trust remains fragile, such content has real-world consequences: panic in financial markets, unwarranted anger against state bodies, or mob reactions triggered by wholly fabricated stories. The speed and scale of this distortion make traditional fact-checking mechanisms appear painfully slow.
Social media platforms thrive on engagement algorithms that favour outrage. The result is a deeply polarized online landscape where differing political or social views trigger hostility rather than healthy debate. What could have been a space for informed dialogue has devolved into parallel echo chambers, each convinced of its exclusive hold on truth. This erosion of shared realities poses a serious challenge for democratic functioning and consensus-building. Digital Harassment and Vulnerability: Beyond political noise, many Pakistanis—especially women—face........