Twitter & Propaganda:
In Pakistan, the use of social media is on rise. However, there are contradictory views on usage-percentage of each social medium, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest. According to estimates of AlphaPro there were 35 million social media
In Pakistan, the use of social media is on rise. However, there are contradictory views on usage-percentage of each social medium, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest. According to estimates of AlphaPro there were 35 million social media
users in Pakistan by March 2018. Out of 35 million 92% were Facebook users. Percentage of Twitter users was 0.1%. However, according to estimates of GlobalStats Stat Counter, the percentage of Twitter users in Pakistan by March 2019 was 5%. Five percent users make 1.75 million
out of 35 million active social media users. Though this number is still very low as compared to Facebook users, but the rapid growth in Twitter users is reflection of increase in Twitter popularity among Pakistani social media users.
Despite of relatively small percentage of
Despite of relatively small percentage of
Twitter users, Twitter has become a source of propaganda and spread of fake news in Pakistan. Every other day a derogatory and propagandist trend is propagated on Twitter by troll armies.
Fake accounts are mostly involved in spreading fake news but I consider them a lesser problem as compared to real propaganda accounts. Propaganda accounts play key role in opinion formation and building narratives. Even fake news gets more “authenticity” when propagated by
Propaganda accounts. Based on my experience of Twitter analysis, I've categorized Twitter accounts into following five categories:
1)Verified Account (VA): whose identity is verified by Twitter
2)Genuine Account (GA) but not twitter verified, like @zarrarkhuhro or @SaeedRizvan
1)Verified Account (VA): whose identity is verified by Twitter
2)Genuine Account (GA) but not twitter verified, like @zarrarkhuhro or @SaeedRizvan
3)“Identity-based Propaganda Account (IPA)”. These are the accounts where users reveal their identity (though not verified by Twitter) but they engage in extensive messaging of one particular party or libelling certain individuals. They tweet/retweet extensively and have a
network online that spreads their campaign. E.g. @FarhanKVirk
4)Veiled Genuine Accounts (VGA): these accounts seem genuine based on their twitter activity but not revealing name, gender or location. Considering cultural context of Pakistan, where many girls can’t disclose
4)Veiled Genuine Accounts (VGA): these accounts seem genuine based on their twitter activity but not revealing name, gender or location. Considering cultural context of Pakistan, where many girls can’t disclose
their identities in online space due to certain social reasons. Even, at times, boys and individuals who identify themselves differently or have different ideologies, can’t reveal identity.
5)“Veiled Propaganda Accounts (VPA). These accounts have suspicious identities, might be
5)“Veiled Propaganda Accounts (VPA). These accounts have suspicious identities, might be
using a girl’s name or picture, e.g @farinaikram. These could be labelled as fake accounts.
“Identity-based Propaganda Accounts (IPAs)” are bigger threat to online forums as well as to general harmony of the society than “Veiled Propaganda Accounts (VPA)”.
“Identity-based Propaganda Accounts (IPAs)” are bigger threat to online forums as well as to general harmony of the society than “Veiled Propaganda Accounts (VPA)”.
IPAs are more lethal in terms of disseminating disinformation and fake news. People tend to believe more if a news or piece of information is coming from an identifiable person as compared to non-identifiable account.
No checks on IPAs by the State authorities give a message
No checks on IPAs by the State authorities give a message
to general Twitter users that either IPAs are talking the truth, or it is acceptable to get away with propaganda and dispersion of fake news.
IPAs are setting social trends that may lead society to generalized intolerance and abusive-culture. The negative impact of IPAs
IPAs are setting social trends that may lead society to generalized intolerance and abusive-culture. The negative impact of IPAs
abusive-language increase manifolds when acknowledged and invited to main stream media to talk. This recognition of IPAs spreads a general message that it doesn’t matter how and what one says in online space, the only thing that matters is recognition and “the name” one gets.
It casts a disastrous impact on young minds who are struggling for recognition. Such attention-seeking individuals find it an easy way to get to limelight. They tend to believe that the only thing that matters is getting recognition, they can’t differentiate between fame and
notoriety. Development of this social psychology leads towards a vilifying attitude towards others, looking for short-term negative means to gain recognition, and to adopt coercion as “accepted norm” to achieve own targets.
If timely actions are not taken to free Twitter from
If timely actions are not taken to free Twitter from
propagandists and digital abusers, they may turn into digital Taliban who would not tolerate anything in digital world against their whims.
#DigitalTaliban
#Propaganda
#FakeNews
#Trolls
#DigitalTaliban
#Propaganda
#FakeNews
#Trolls
