17 May 2016
RIYADH: Contrary to what has been circulated about the negative effects of social media, some users and activists are insisting that social media can be manipulated in a better way in order to serve community interests and promote awareness campaigns, experts say.
Dr. Zahra Al-Moabi, a family and educational expert, said such campaigns show the good face of social which were earlier criticized for their alleged bad effects on morals and ethics.
She said that some people had used social media to mislead young people or spread rumors, either to affect people's psychology or disturb them and make them incapable of living a satisfactory life.
Dr. Zahra noted that certain campaigns could be launched on social media. She cited campaigns such as those related to city cleaning, assistance for the weak and even calls for mercy to workers who work in the direct sun in the summer. At the same time, experts said charitable societies can find though social media new ways to reach their supporters, potential donors and volunteers. Social media can encourage people to sign up to campaigns or recruit volunteers in certain works, they said.
Dr. Zahra noted that she was happy about such campaigns as it makes her feel that young people are using social media for good purposes and investing their time positively.
One social activist said that many campaigns had been started in order to educate people and make them help the poor through the media.
Certain campaigns have been dedicated to workers engaged in jobs in bad weather conditions; members of the public were urged to give them cold drinks and food and even to report those working in the sun despite regulations forbidding this, the acitivist said.
Many business owners are beginning to promote their business through social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, which are widely used by the younger generation.
RIYADH: Contrary to what has been circulated about the negative effects of social media, some users and activists are insisting that social media can be manipulated in a better way in order to serve community interests and promote awareness campaigns, experts say.
Dr. Zahra Al-Moabi, a family and educational expert, said such campaigns show the good face of social which were earlier criticized for their alleged bad effects on morals and ethics.
She said that some people had used social media to mislead young people or spread rumors, either to affect people's psychology or disturb them and make them incapable of living a satisfactory life.
Dr. Zahra noted that certain campaigns could be launched on social media. She cited campaigns such as those related to city cleaning, assistance for the weak and even calls for mercy to workers who work in the direct sun in the summer. At the same time, experts said charitable societies can find though social media new ways to reach their supporters, potential donors and volunteers. Social media can encourage people to sign up to campaigns or recruit volunteers in certain works, they said.
Dr. Zahra noted that she was happy about such campaigns as it makes her feel that young people are using social media for good purposes and investing their time positively.
One social activist said that many campaigns had been started in order to educate people and make them help the poor through the media.
Certain campaigns have been dedicated to workers engaged in jobs in bad weather conditions; members of the public were urged to give them cold drinks and food and even to report those working in the sun despite regulations forbidding this, the acitivist said.
Many business owners are beginning to promote their business through social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, which are widely used by the younger generation.
© Arab News 2016
