Social Media and Youth Protest Behavior

 

The year of Quarantine has taught us to live Online, so it is possibly predictable that is was what we saw online that directed us back onto the streets. Social Media is not about website to spend time for enjoyment, it is more about platform of expression, to grab the idea about national and international affairs, highlighting global concerns and much more. Social media has provided freedom of expression to every gender without biasness. It can only be restricted under certain conditions. Accordingly, Countries have positive and negative obligations for the protection of Freedom of expression. Protest activity on social media has become central means of Political change. Use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram is significantly associated with the protest behavior. Youth have been enormously vigorous in political action because of their “post materialism ideology”. Most of the Protest activities that we observe nowadays, is a consequence of community protesting and connecting as a whole. There is usually none of the political party involved in movements raised on social media.

Culture of Hashtag has taken, the ground, where new hashtag becomes a voice of youth every day. During COVID-19 online class internet facility was not accessible at many areas, instead of accumulating on Road and creating hype for Government and for residents the youth opted for positive protest for raising their voice by using twitter with hashtag #boycottonlineclasses, #saynotoonlineclasses, #wewantphysicalclasses. This is positive behavior towards achieving goals, rather than using violent approach on roads and Infront of Prime Minister house or Chief Minister house, the youth of 21^st century is sensible enough to raise voice on social media platforms. Now a days the world is getting globalized where, we can get access just within seconds. If we raise our issue on Physical grounds, just our vicinity will be informed with our concern but not the entire Population. In order to engage the entire Population, we must be aware about the power of social media.

 There is great said by Erik Qualman, “The power of Social Media is it forces necessary Change”. The Change is necessary for healthy society. The death of Geoge Floyed has taken the social media on storm. “Justice for George floyed” or “black lives matter” became a top trend around the globe, this became a global concern not a geographic concern. This is the power of social media which motivates youth to raise voice within peaceful manner. The recent medical students has raised voice over “National Licensing Exam NLE”, “Pakistan Medical Council PMC”, has made is mandatory for the young doctors to clear NLE before entering into practicing area. The young doctors raised protest against the PMC’s decision the most educated class of society were on roads the riots taken place between doctors and police mob. The consequence of the protest was inconceivable. The Young doctors were put behind the bars, tear gas and shelling came in their luck. On the other side of picture, the Doctors can be opted for peaceful procession, it should be understood to them, we cannot challenge the writ of Government policy. There is a need to educate the youth about the power of social media.

Youth has learned about online and offline campaigns on social media. Unemployment is at its verge, on the other hand the application fee of every job has exceeded 1000 rupee, now adays trend of #reducejobChalanto100” is trending on twitter. This is positive demand from the side of youth, ad raised in peaceful manner. Mainly youth’s demand is circulating on Twitter and WhatsApp. According to social media Analytics firm, more than 1 billion hashtags are created in a month. Social media becomes a platform for raising Political awareness among the young soul. According to Analytics firm, Twitter has 330 million active users, most of them are below 20 years of age, which indicate the level of activism of youth on social media. Social media is a source of Power, people came unanimously to fight in contradiction of concentrated source of power. This has been observed across the world. This has been observed from the political campaign of Prime Minister Imran to the present Covid-19 days. Revolutions around the globe has taken its birth from the social media such as “Egypt Revolution”, “Tunisia Revelation”, etc. Social media has commenced a vital role in communicating people to give birth to leaderless drive.

Technology Optimists have argued that use of social media technologies has massive potential to crack social glitches. They accept the challenges that originate with the usage of social media, but they still accept as true that benefits compensate the outlays. Use of social media plays a significant part in helping individual connect with each other. The ability to join and spread of info plays a vital role in helping people dissent and organize in modern world with no cost of life. This participation is healthy participation, as the youth is more curious about their rights and availing the technology in age of information and networks.