It is encouraging that incumbent government is identifying all grey areas in the country and trying to address major problems prevailing all across.
For instance, attention has suddenly converged to the ills of social media. The new move is admirable provided the spirit behind that is to rectify the existing anomalies associated with misuse of social media. There is a dire need to formulate ethical guidance for distracted lot indulged in all sort of unethical practices.
Having said this, I am equally worried that fighting on several fronts at the same time is no doubt, a gallantry act but fighting against the enemy with broken guns in hands is not something making yourself a fool by chance.
Where did I bring broken guns from?. Very simple, present government is standing on a weak composition- a combination of fragile factions coalesced to install it. On top of it, all allies of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) led coalition government are not on one page.
Dissenting indications are visible from the ruling quarters associated with PML-Q, MQM and others. On top of this, callowness in almost all segments of cabinet including the prime minister’s secretariats is even more concerning.
One big slip they earlier met with was mismanagement regarding Army Chief’s service extension case. Similarly shortage of flour, sugar and ever increasing prices essentials commodities of daily use are glaring examples of broken and split policies on part of distracted cabinet team of Prime Minister Imran Khan
All these indicate that house is suffering from a severe disorder. Once you are broken in bits and pieces yourself, how come you can concentrate on exploring new avenues.
Coming back to the social media, it’s importance cannot be overemphasized in this era of information technology where it has actually shrunk the distances and converted them into moments.
Where it provides advantages of being an easily accessible communication link across the globe, exchange and access to numerous information, resource for research, transfer of knowledge, positive publicity and reaching to the people far across, at the same time, it has disadvantages of, being used for negative propaganda, spreading misinformation, creating false alarms, usage for immoral stuff and blackmailing tactics.
If the purpose behind the new endeavor of government is to sift the available social media ports for betterment and regulate them under acceptable ethics, the effort would be definitely applauded.
On the other hand, if it is going to be a package of restrictions and forcing the people to serve the purpose of government to bring them cheap popularity and try to mold the public opinion to their advantage forcefully, the policy would bounce back for sure. That would engender yet another negative sentiment against the regime.
Such a scenario would produce further friction between the society and those who govern it. Whatever steps the government intends to take in order to regulate social media platforms, these should be very articulate and well-thought-out.
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