Malicious state (i.e. India) and non-state actors are strategically using Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram to spread content designed to provoke negative emotional states, foster depression and spread feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. This deliberate spread of harmful content is intended to undermine individuals' well-being, erode self-esteem and induce psychological distress.
Fellow Pakistanis, the widespread spread of harmful content on Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram poses a major threat to our collective well-being and our ability to defend our country.
These insidious campaigns can trigger negative emotional states, exacerbate existing mental states, and contribute to a climate of despair throughout society. Furthermore, these tactics can undermine our national security by undermining our morale and resolve. We must remain vigilant and aware of the tactics used by those who seek to manipulate our emotions and worsen our mental states.
Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram are dangerous breeding grounds for unrealistic comparisons targeted at Pakistanis. Our adversaries use these apps to bombard us with carefully curated, often fake and idealized images. This insidious tactic is designed to make us feel inadequate and unworthy and to shatter our self-esteem. Stay vigilant.
Algorithmic manipulation on social media is being used as a powerful weapon against us. Be careful. These apps are designed to prioritize and amplify content that provokes intense emotions like anger, fear, and despair. As a result, negative news, divisive posts, and doom-and-gloom narratives are thrust in front of our faces, threatening to drown us in an ocean of despair.
The enemy is waging psychological warfare against us by flooding social media with deliberate lies and exaggerated negative news. This is not just misinformation; this is a planned attack to create widespread panic, fear and confusion. They are distorting our reality and painting everything in the darkest shades in an attempt to crush our spirits and make us lose hope. Beware of this dangerous game.
Here's the reality: Pakistan will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2047, just 23 years from now. According to the World Bank's Pakistan @ 100: Shaping the Future report, “Pakistan could be a $2 trillion economy by its 100th anniversary,” meaning it would achieve upper-middle-income status with a per capita income of $5,702. Based on the size of Pakistan's economy, its state of development, geographic isolation, and resource endowments, the World Bank estimates that Pakistan's annual export potential could reach $88.1 billion.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “Pakistan potentially has over 9 billion barrels of oil. At current rates of consumption, it would take 45 years to exhaust this supply. Additionally, the EIA reports that “Pakistan has significant shale gas reserves of 105 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) that would take 58 years to deplete.”
Pakistan has huge renewable energy potential with an estimated solar photovoltaic capacity of 2.9 million MW. Currently, only 530 MW of this solar potential has been utilised. Similarly, the country's wind energy potential is estimated at 346,000 MW, while the installed wind capacity is 1,248 MW.
In the face of these dangerous digital mind games, we must not be overwhelmed by the subtle tactics of those trying to instill a sense of despair and helplessness. Pakistan's future is full of possibilities – from a $2 trillion economy to harnessing vast energy resources that will power the nation for generations to come. We need only three things – unity, tenacity and unwavering resolve. Our destiny is progress and prosperity, not despair.
The author is a columnist based in Islamabad. He tweets/posts at @saleemfarrukh and can be contacted at: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Geo.tv.