Users impact main media through social media

Dubai: Thanks to social media, the audiences in today’s world have the power to create and direct the agenda of the media, speakers at the Arab Media Forum 2014 said.

During a session titled ‘Margins revolution changes media agendas’ speakers agreed that because of social media, audiences have become mediapersons with their own agendas.

Dawood Al Shirian, anchor at MBC, said, “We are living in a time where audiences create their own agendas through the use of hastags and trends, which later penetrate traditional media channels. Today, new media has more influence as social media platforms like YouTube have more viewership than TV stations.”

Mohammad Al Hammadi, Editor-in-Chief, Al Ittihad newspaper, agreed with Al Shirian saying that many individuals have reached popularity through YouTube and other social media channels.

A video of Mona Al Beheiri, who became famous after her rant against President Barak Obama went viral, was shown as an example of how marginalised media is starting to become the mainstream.

He said traditional media should take advantage of social media and benefit from the new technology.

“Most papers are benefiting from social media, they should take advantage of this media but it is also important to interact with it with respect due to its importance today.”

Although Ayman Al Sayyad, Editor-in-Chief, Weghet Nazar magazine, agrees that social media is important, he believes that media should not change its methods. He said they still need to respect the basics.

Abdulilah Bel Keziz, a Moroccan writer, spoke about the new media’s disadvantages, referring to it as a violent technology.

“Today’s technology is violent. It does not ask for permission. The audio-visual media nowadays is full of political, religious and public material that need censorship and I am concerned with how illegal material has become available to the public.”