Daily Times

Social media allows us to engage with each other, giving us a sense of belonging. It’s growing by the day, altering the dynamics of our society. However, many Pakistanis still don’t use social media, and the views of social media users and non-users vary greatly. The induction and expulsion of Atif Mian from the Economic Advisory Council shows how popular sentiment on social media may differ greatly from the masses, where the resignation of Atif Mian was condemned on social media, but a large population of conservatives supported it.

The internet’s eliminated physical boundaries, and social media users are supporting liberal concepts. Social media has feminists, liberals, and people from both ends of the political spectrum. Our society can benefit from getting exposed to such different philosophies, learning about them by engaging with people on social media.

The internet’s eliminated physical boundaries, and social media users are supporting liberal concepts

We are pursuing the traits of a post-modern western world that have failed to infiltrate our society, including virtues like meritocracy and treating everyone equally. It’s because we’re still living in a traditional conservative society.

But we shouldn’t demean our existing reality. Every society has its process of advancement. Slowly but surely, we are progressing, developing new perspectives and a higher level of tolerance.

We cannot wake up one morning and demand the masses to dispense their thought patterns

Are we a more tolerant nation than a decade ago? Are we accepting the marginalized more? Yes, we are. Painstakingly slow, but we are progressing each day.

Published in Daily Times, September 18^th 2018.