Pakistan is considered the fifth largest young country in the world, with 63 percent of its population comprising youth between the ages of 15 and 33 years. These young people are passionately involved in community services, where they contribute in the shape of ideas and energy to resolve social and political issues. In addition, their easy access to social media has given them the power and opportunity to not only share their opinions freely but also to keep others informed of the situation around them.
There was a time when the general public relied heavily on the mainstream media and their correspondents for news and information. But over time, the rise of citizen journalism has dramatically changed the communication patterns of social and political spheres in the favor of the general public. The access and prevalence of smartphones have revolutionized all affairs of human development including education, health, entertainment, business, politics, and sports. With easy access to digital platforms, young people can now verify facts and information from multiple sources, leaving less room for fabricated news and information.
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How social media has helped youngsters?
The use of social media platforms has not equipped the youngsters to be active citizens of society, but it has positively impacted their political awareness and participation. According to an online survey conducted in a rural context of Pakistan, Pakistani students are highly politically aware and their online political activities strongly correlate to their political awareness and offline political participation. At the same time, the popularity of social media platforms has helped level the playing field for new political parties with less access to mainstream media. Thus, it would not be wrong to say that the online support of political parties not only reflects their ground popularity but young people are now comparatively less impacted by the influence of mainstream media.
In the context of Pakistan, political parties used to depend on the few large mainstream media houses for their public support. However, with the change of circumstances, election campaigns of political parties are now run through social and digital media platforms, where politicians express themselves without the filter of mainstream media. Political bias has also influenced the popularity and people’s trust level in mainstream media. Research has revealed that a large proportion of young people have low trust in the mainstream media because mainstream media have agendas that serve the interests of powerful social groups.
Young generation not only represents the future of Pakistan but is in charge of building a legacy
They should be encouraged to evaluate social and political issues critically, research, and express their dissent in a sophisticated and reasoned manner. They should be aware of the world around them, and should play their role as “change agents”. They should prefer fighting against the status quo over their immediate material interests.
The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah placed great importance on the role of youth in the development of society. While addressing students in Lahore on October 31 he said: ‘’Pakistan is proud of her youth, particularly the students who have always been in the forefront in the hour of trial and need. You are the nation’s leaders of tomorrow and you must fully equip yourself with discipline, education, and training for the arduous task lying ahead of you. You should realize the magnitude of your responsibility and be ready to bear it’’ (Jinnah, 1947).
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Over the recent weeks, the youth of Pakistan has proved that they are not only well-informed but have the capacity to analyze the political landscape of the country. In the current political crisis of the country, young people are not only expressing their views on social media platforms but are also asserting themselves as responsible citizens by participating in rallies and political gatherings of millions. It is now the responsibility of society and the government not only to provide support to the youth but also to take steps to enable them to participate in the social and political spheres of the country without any fear and trepidation.
Muhammad Adnan is a journalist and researcher. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.