When one tries to silence a digital generation, the result is an explosion. On September 9 in Nepal, the government fell, swept away by riots sparked by the ban on 26 social media platforms, a sign that today, control of communication carries more weight than electoral promises.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Nepal officially resigned after a violent clash between “Gen Z” protesters and police on Monday left 19 people dead. The civil unrest resulted in politicians’ houses being vandalised and government buildings going up in flames, all over the Government’s decision to ban almost thirty social media apps.
There were other reasons for the destruction that followed, as many young people grew sick of government corruption and nepotism. However, the fact that a social media ban could so quickly spiral into governmental collapse is a notion worthy of being studied by itself.
Whoever controls the media, controls the mind
Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, once said: “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.” This poignant statement by the charismatic rockstar, may be the reason Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli decided to ban social media platforms in the first place. According to a report by Channel 4, the Nepalese government perhaps opted to ban the apps due to the companies decision to not register officially with the government.
As people were already growing tired of the perceived corruption among high-ranking officials, the decision to limit everyone’s ability to access unfiltered news and information was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Nowadays, the fact a social media ban could result in such massive unrest and destruction isn’t all that surprising; however, it is strange to see how much these platforms have become essential to the way we get news, media and information as a whole.
According to recent data, social media apps such as TikTok and YouTube have quickly become the main news source for Gen Z and Millenials. This paradigm shift has given a voice to everyone, shedding light on what traditional news media may choose to overlook; on the other hand, these companies main goal is still to turn a profit, so ethical journalism is not always a top priority.
The good, the bad and the ugly
As previously mentioned, giving everyone a platform has truly democratised the news. Those using platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok or YouTube are usually seeing real world news stories play out in real time. Both the War in Ukraine and the genocide of the Palestinian people are being broadcast to the whole world, not only by professional journalists, but by those living it.
There is no hiding from the eyes of social media. Nevertheless, relying on raw footage and a series of influencers to understand the world around us, often comes with a set of drawbacks. For one, these individuals don’t have to adhere to a code of ethics or journalistic integrity. Social media apps, despite having terms and conditions, have one single bottomline: keeping users engaged. Therefore, fake-news and outrageous content tends to flourish and spread like wildfire. Users spewing hate, racism and misogyny often get more views, comments and user traffic, leading to bigger advertising deals and, hence, more money.
Unfortunately, because of the way these apps are created, keeping people scrolling has become more important than journalistic values and integrity. This hate, however, is having a real effect on the world. On Wednesday September 10, prominent right-wing influencer, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead during an event in Utah. Kirk had built a reputation for debating college students on divisive matters. He had made many radical and inflammatory statements many people have deemed racist, sexist and homophobic. Although no opinion could ever warrant such violent action, the fatal attack is a stark reminder of the real-world effect the news and social media can have.
The future of ethical news on social media
There’s no going back; if the Nepal protests have proved anything, it’s that social media is here to stay. However, we can still choose to use it and consume it ethically. It’s important to find trustworthy accounts, who are transparent with their own biases and beliefs but report on the news objectively. Propaganda can run rampant on social media, which is why discerning fact from opinion is crucial. As politics become ever more polarising, now is the time to focus on truth and discussion rather than hate and engagement.
