Opinion

Writing in the era of Twitter

September 27, 2018
Writing in the era of Twitter

Mona Almalki

Okaz newspaper

WHEN I wanted to go back to writing a column in Okaz I asked myself: What is the point of writing for a newspaper at a time when many people predict the extinction of the print media?

While most people on social media brag about the number of followers they have, which is more than the number of people who read newspapers, the news shared on social media will have a wider reach than any newspaper in the traditional media world.

Unfortunately what I said carries a lot of truth, but it is an incomplete truth. Let us take any controversial issue and look at the responses on Twitter, the favorite social media platform for Saudis. You will find a sea of borrowed names and fake accounts that express a wide range of opinions and moods, only bringing you more stress and confusion.

On the contrary, newspapers are objective and straightforward, which is the right way to get results or find a solution. The only role of social media is to excite and rouse the poor recipients with propaganda material. The only motive here is to make money and only money!

Pointless hashtags and accounts are protected by the blue sign — a sign that is hard to get. At the end of the day when you leave these accounts all you can say is “for what?” Despite Twitter executives’ attempts to eliminate the accounts that buy fake followers, it remains a sign of the populist desire for empowerment.

Such manipulations would not have taken place if the traditional newspapers had tried to adapt to the new trends and compete with these new media platforms. Unfortunately newspapers are just sitting and watching!

Printed newspapers have an experience that was not used in the social media revolution. I know that competition is tough and almost impossible, but the honor of trying will always be marked.


September 27, 2018
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