Audio Script:
On the 6th of April, the GAPP Tahrir Dialogue covered “Social Media and the Age of
Polarization,” due to the increase of the issue around us. Polarization is a segregation within a
society due to different opinions. Media polarization prevails despite its regulation, which raises
the questions of when it started, how it affected the industry, and how we can avoid it. Dr. Naila
Hamdy, the associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the
American University in Cairo, tells us more about the issue of polarization and how it began.
Prof. Naila: “I think polarization has always existed, but the point here is that social
media has amplified it so, and the role of media in amplifying polarization has existed
before. It started with newspapers, television, you know, this whole idea of divide and
polarizing has always existed. I think we're just really noticing more than ever because in
social media, it's more obvious.” (00:33)
The obviousness of media polarization may alter the ways communication methods are being
taught, leading to more awareness in receiving and accuracy in reporting.
Prof. Naila: “Professors like myself and other kind of media people started to notice how
how negative it can also be. We started to try our best to raise awareness among students
and other young people, or even people who are not young, by training them to become
more media literate.” (00:23)
Since media literacy has been increasing for the past few years but hate speech and fake news
persist, there was always a red line to media governance where individuals feel like they can’t
practice free speech, that governments may ban opinions for their own interest, and that hate
speech may take other forms. However, there seems to be a grey area that can both raise
awareness and avoid falsity.
Prof. Naila: “I also don't want to feel like I can't write what I want or say what I want on
social media as long as it doesn't hurt other people. I don't also advocate harming
others, but I do worry about governance and who is going to govern. So I prefer to take
the media literacy route where you teach people to, you know, look at things with. You
know, use their brains when they get exposed to media in general and social media in
particular.” (00:41)
As stated by the Digital Strategist and Content Director at Smart Insights, Dave Chaffey, older
generations are constantly using social media, so adults are exposed to false information without
realizing it AND end up sharing it with others around them. False news spread three times faster
than true news on Twitter, which was stated by the Social Dilemma Documentary on Netflix that
highlights the true marketing benefits of social media platforms and how they sell users’ data for
advertising purposes.
Prof. Naila: “I meet people, you know, in my every day to day life and they'll say
something completely, completely obscure. And I say, well, how do you know? Where did
you hear them say, oh, I saw it on the Internet as though the Internet has this blank
credibility, or maybe not just the Internet, but things like "someone sent it to me on
WhatsApp." So? Who is with someone? Who created it? And you would be surprised that
this happens with people with a very high level of education also. I just think they're not
conscious of the fact that you can make fake videos, that you can, you know, send out
information that is based on lies.” (00:49)
The drive to increase media literacy keeps adding up as technology advances and the
introduction of new applications to enhance falsies and the spread of believable fake news is
more and more concerning. So here are questions to ask yourself when you’re exposed to any
news piece on social media.
Prof. Naila: “I always ask who wrote that? Do I know who it is? And that's my first
question. Then who owns that? What is at stake for them? Should I believe it? So I
always start with should I believe it before I believe it. You know, if it's a video, I look at
it and if I'm even slightly suspicious, I will check other sources to see what other media
are saying about that particular video, for instance, if it's an image. You know, maybe I
can't tell if it's a Photoshop or not, but I'm suspicious, I use a reverse image app on my
phone, takes two seconds and you find out where this image comes from." (00:51)
Media literacy will always be a topic that’s demanded but hard to implement. News owners
constantly seek to innovate the field using new technologies and tools to make tracking easier.
Media students and the future of media should always look forward to incorporating literacy
tools to media consumers in order to reduce the negative effects associated with media exposure.
Laila Ezz Elarab, A-U-C Radio.
