Empowering

Social media has acted as a tool to empower people to the truth that might have otherwise been hidden from the public. Social media has also made it possible for young people to have opinions, as the world is losing interest in reading newspapers and listening to long press conferences.

From Mr Shlok Misra

UAE

No winners

Social media creates more awareness for sure. It is also able to reach more people with more real time information. But when we look at conflicts like Israel and Gaza in the examples listed, there are no winners. In human tragedy, there can be no winners, only sadness.

From Ms Debra Teles

Dubai

Hate speech

Social media has its place. Unfortunately, it’s too often used to propagate and spread more hatred on all sides sadly. It is sometimes used to spread more hate and anger than positive change.

From Mr Steve O’Brien

Yemen

Still biased content

Social media does give us access to more information but the media can be so shamelessly biased and people so hopelessly brainwashed. For me, that’s the sad part.

From Mr Syed Shams

UAE

Social media is biased

I think that social media online twists and favours issues the same as the media on television. The footage is more graphic and uncensored. I can actually deal with, but it’s the blatant over-editing of pictures, videos and made up stories that make me angry. People are dying, we get it. That is war.

From Ms Kathleen P. Haines

US

Not a war

In response to Kathleen, that is not war. That is the liberation army versus the invaders, land grabbers, murderers of children and women. How can you be so callous?

From Mr Tashfeen Masood Qayyum

UAE

Ignorance

It’s not war. Wars are fought in battlefields, not in people’s homes. The killing of women and children is criminal. You may be able to distinguish between real and edited content, Kathleen, but don’t be ignorant.

From Ms Faria Suman

UAE

No excuse

I think social media has allowed for a better interpretation of the mood of the public and the mood of political circumstances. I don’t think there is any excuse for ignorance with information on any major conflict being at our finger tips.

From Mr Hussain

UAE

Not talking about it

Yes, social media has impacted awareness but there are too many other insignificant stories floating around as well. Unfortunately, our Muslim brothers are getting lost in worldly pleasures and they ignore their brothers and sisters who are being killed and don’t even like to talk about it.

From Mr Faisal Ahmad

Dubai

Spreads propaganda

Social media is just another means of spreading propaganda. There is nothing impartial about ignorant people spreading false information, which is generally what seems to happen.

From Mr Adam Davidson

Dubai

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