Why has social media become an arena for lies, slander and hate speech?
Author: Ahmad Saidi, an analyst on Afghanistan and regional issues (Germany), especially for Sangar
I hope you have the patience to read these opinions and judge fairly. This is not only my pain, but this pain is common, which I share with you.
I watch audio and video content daily, especially YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Vibeer, etc. It becomes very painful for me to see many YouTubers who do something without a plan just to find a few dollars. This is incredible and unacceptable.
In most other audio and visual media I watch from morning to evening, there is nothing but contempt, insults, sarcasm, and ridicule.
People's actions and reactions against each other cause hatred. The continuation of this situation caused even more complications and disobedience. This situation must be crushed, otherwise it will destroy and plunge everyone into the abyss of selfishness and pride.
Each of the actors involved in audio and visual media is the king of the land of idle talk.
But what are some politicians of the past and present talking about in different circles with demagogic slogans and harsh political words? About change, the principles of the constitution, reform, security, improving the economic situation, creating jobs, unity, and compassion. What do these gentlemen mean, who is their audience, and from whom do they expect action? From people who are sacrificed every day under the shadow of their rule by the sworn enemies of the Afghan people? Who do they expect support from? These same people are amorphous masses who know neither the “words and the pen” of these populist politicians, nor these useless statements.
What is the connection between these empty speeches of politicians and the daily poverty and hunger of our people? Undoubtedly, a handful of our people have become attached to politicians who will change the situation, but there is no action beyond empty words.
Now all capacities are close to zero, there is no national trust, no international trust. What do we expect without potential and capacity? Currently, in our country, democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech have different definitions. American democracy, Afghan democracy, military democracy, artificial democracy, imagined democracy, populist democracy, etc.
Dear friends, visit social media pages, especially Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, Vibeer, etc., and watch carefully. What do supporters of past and present politicians say and write against each other? How much they slander and most importantly, how shamelessly and unrealistically they serve their patrons.
This is the hopelessness and helplessness of my generation, which has lost its creative mind and energy due to anger and resentment, which is the result of a history of deprivation and oppression. This means at the same time that he is not able, to tell the truth, his heart is closed by slander and lies. Facebook and YouTube channels, TikTok, and many WhatsApp groups created under different names are actively engaged in defamation, insults, and humiliation. Everyone speaks out against each other in extreme forms of denial. The only thing that can be is inhumane, even in its highest form, and that's all...
I fear this inherited anger and resentment, this scourge of this generation. It contains a huge potential for violence, lack of tolerance, and the endless power of opposing wisdom in the form of political-historical, religious, ethnic, and linguistic myths. This generation is repeating the mistakes of the previous generation of wars and bloodshed. With this situation continuing, it seems that we are also victims of the plague of violence and struggle of our previous generation, which destroyed everything due to oppression, poverty, and historical deprivation. It would be better if we learned lessons from the bloody history of our land and the unscrupulous actions of our enemies.
It would be better if we learned tolerance, peace, and unity, but unfortunately, this is the opposite of today's generation, which propagates in favor of one or the other. It promotes violence and lack of empathy and encourages violence, extremism, intolerance, and unkind behavior through the media. We are currently victims of extremism by political activists in power.
One glance at websites, blogs, Facebook posts, YouTube channels, WhatsApp groups, and TikTok accounts is enough to understand today's generation's communication quality and worldview. Violence, hatred, insults, accusations, the sanctification of violence under the name of chivalry, intolerance of opposing opinions, and the praise of violent people and political demagogues are abundantly visible in most discussions.
With such cruel minds, our people are losing the fight for freedom and democracy because they cannot overcome structural violence and impatience, and they turn it all into ideology.
It is clear that this generation suffers from a lack of democratic culture and makes serious mistakes until it fundamentally understands them. Errors that cannot be corrected.