With the rage that social media has become these days, every time something happens that blocks usage of the same, the impact is not just disappointed youths in the country, but also quite an economic setback.
In May 2010, Facebook was banned in Pakistan due to a religiously offensive page encouraging people to send caricatures and drawings of the prophet Mohammad. And last year, the popular online video site YouTube was banned after an anti-Islam video caused much furore among the Islamic nations, including Pakistan. It was briefly unblocked later last December because the offensive video had not been removed.
According to Alexa, an online global web metrics company, Facebook is the second and YouTube is the ninth most viewed sites in the country.
These social media sites are not just a means of momentary pastime anymore; many businesses, entrepreneurs use these as tools to promote their businesses at low costs. From established brands to small start-ups, entrepreneurs and businessmen are realising and harnessing the power of social media as far as virtual marketing goes.
With Facebook, the most avid local entrepreneurs belong to the fairer sex, who have gotten their products and services featured widely with the help of a Facebook page. Be it a small baking venture, or a self-proclaimed designer, many Pakistani ladies have put a step in the business world thanks to social media sites.
On YouTube, Bajias Cooking channel promotes Pakistani cuisine and helps out many struggling cooks. At another end, Pakistans Gangnam-like sensation Waderai ka Beta and One Pound Fish have millions of Pakistanis hooked on to what is the up and coming face of the media.
Celebrities become stars as busy people download episodes of their favourite soaps to watch at their own convenience, and multinational companies upload their own marketing videos to help promote their products.
Besides the promotional aspect, YouTube also shares part of the advertising revenue earned through banner ads on popular videos. Having said that, the subliminal impact as the local media evolves into something much more widespread and accessible is the real benefit from these sites.
Yet, offensive videos and content on these sites will continue to irk many in the country, and just ignoring their rage is probably not a good idea. But burning the entire body because the little finger was charred is not a great idea either.
Perhaps PTAs firewall software to block blasphemous content is a good idea, at least as good as when it does get implemented. In a country where mobile networks have to be blocked to prevent terrorist activities, letting the rage of a few banish the potent force of social media sites like YouTube may not seem like such a big deal.
But to harness the power of this genius of the internet and the web, more specific solutions have to be developed rather than banning the entire site as a whole.
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