Social media literacy in Pakistan is important to foster a strong, resilient, and productive digital society. 

Muhammad Saqlain Kanjan 

Introduction: 

Social media has become an essential and undeniable fact of our daily lives. According to DataReportal, the average user spends about 2.5 hours per day on social media. That's 864 hours a year of scrolling through apps, which equates to 36 days, or a little over a month. While in Pakistan, a World Times magazine report shows that on average, a Pakistani user spends 76 minutes and 42 seconds a day on social media, which translates to 536 minutes and 54 seconds a week, 2301 minutes a month, and 27995 minutes and 30 seconds a year. Social media platforms are shaping how we communicate, consume information, and interact with the world around us. However, amidst the benefits lie significant challenges, including the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, privacy concerns, cybercrimes, and the impact on mental health. To effectively navigate this digital landscape, it is necessary to cultivate social media literacy. Social media literacy means the ability to critically engage with and responsibly navigate social media platforms. This blog explores the concept of social media literacy, its importance, and strategies for enhancing it in individuals and communities. 

Popular social media platforms in Pakistan: 

As per the report, globally, active social media users reached 4.76 billion. Globally, total internet users have reached 5.16 billion and 5.44 billion unique mobile phone users, respectively. According to the digital report published by We Are Social and Meltwater, there are 87.35 million internet users in Pakistan, which is 32.1% of the total population of 238.1 million (73% male social media users vs. total social media users) and (27% female social media users vs. total social media users). 

YouTube will be Pakistan’s most-used social media platform in 2024, with a potential ad audience of 71.70 million. The YouTube audience is 82.1% of total internet users (87.35 million) in Pakistan and 30.1% of the total population (238.1 million) in Pakistan. While Facebook users are around 38.49%, Instagram 7.31%, Pinterest 3.96%, Twitter 2.94%, and LinkedIn 0.47%,. 

What is social media literacy? 

In simple words, social media literacy refers to the acquaintance, adoption, and productive use of social media technology in any environment at any place. Social media literacy encompasses a range of skills and expertise essential for engaging with social media platforms effectively. This includes understanding the functionalities and dynamics of various platforms, distinguishing credible information from misinformation, protecting personal privacy and security, and fostering responsible online behaviour. 

The significance of social media literacy: 

Social media literacy is crucial for several reasons. First, it empowers individuals to critically evaluate the content they encounter online, thereby reducing the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Secondly, it enables individuals to protect their privacy and security in an increasingly digitised world. Moreover, social media literacy promotes responsible digital citizenship by fostering positive online interactions and minimising the risks of cyberbullying and harassment. 

Developing Critical Thinking Skills:

A cornerstone of social media literacy is the development of critical thinking skills. Individuals must learn to assess the credibility of sources, recognise biases and propaganda techniques, and differentiate between fact and opinion. By sharpening these skills, individuals can more effectively explore the vast ocean of information on social media, make informed decisions, and contribute to more informed digital discourse. 

Privacy and Security Awareness:

The crucial aspect of social media literacy is privacy and security awareness. Individuals must understand the implications of sharing personal information online, as well as the privacy settings and data collection practices of social media platforms. By adopting privacy-conscious behaviours and implementing security measures, individuals can mitigate the risks of data breaches, cybercrime, harassment, identity theft, and other online threats. 

Responsible online behaviour: 

social media literacy fosters responsible online ehavior. This includes treating others with respect and empathy, refraining from spreading false information or engaging in online harassment, and understanding the potential consequences of one's digital actions. By promoting positive interactions and digital citizenship, individuals can contribute to a healthier and more inclusive online environment. Such a digital setting can provide access to important information and create a space for self-expression, business, creativity, and better communication. 

Media Literacy and Digital Literacy Integration:

Social media literacy intersects with broader concepts of media literacy and digital literacy. Media literacy delves into understanding the influence of media messages and analysing media representations, while digital literacy comprises the skills necessary for effectively utilising digital technologies. By integrating social media literacy into these broader frameworks, individuals can develop a comprehensive toolkit for exploring the digital landscape. 

Conclusion: 

Social media is capturing the minds of the youth. Many universities are teaching it as a subject. In Pakistan, where we see a storm of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda games without hesitation and with no moral or ethical limitations, we should teach it as a course, hold workshops, and, if possible, make its study compulsory for one semester. This is the right time for social media literacy. Through education, awareness, workshops, and community engagement, we can empower individuals and communities to harness the benefits of social media while mitigating its potential risks. As we continue to navigate the evolving social media landscape, enhancing social media literacy will be critical to fostering a safer, more resilient digital society. In a nutshell, social media literacy is critical as it helps combat misinformation, develops critical thinking skills, promotes online safety, and empowers individuals to engage responsibly in digital spaces. gives the option of giving authority. Empowers and contributes to informed and constructive dialogue within society.