Amman, April 27 (Petra) – Social media platforms have become a burgeoning arena for citizens to voice grievances and service demands, with an increasing number turning to the digital sphere to express dissatisfaction and frustration over delayed or inadequate responses from authorities. Posts and videos documenting these concerns now circulate widely, capturing public attention at unprecedented speed.

While such platforms have proven effective in spotlighting pressing community issues, they have also prompted serious questions regarding the veracity of the information shared, the responsiveness of official institutions, and the broader implications for shaping and, at times, distorting public opinion.

Officials, media experts, and ordinary citizens speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) acknowledged that the surge in online complaints reflects an urgent societal need to be heard. However, they underscored the critical importance of channeling grievances through official avenues to ensure that concerns are documented, investigated, and resolved in a structured and transparent manner. They also warned against the unchecked spread of misinformation, which risks inflaming public sentiment and distorting reality.

Mahmoud Al-Hayassat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, noted that the Ministry actively monitors social media content pertaining to the education sector, recognizing it as an essential tool for tracking real-world challenges. To this end, a specialized digital media division was established, tasked with systematically analyzing complaints, liaising with relevant departments, and ensuring timely interventions all while upholding principles of transparency and fairness.

Al-Hayassat affirmed that while the Ministry values social media as a vital conduit for citizen feedback, it calls on the public to exercise caution and responsibility, particularly when dealing with sensitive sectors such as education. "Accuracy and objectivity are paramount," he stressed, urging citizens to seek information from verified official sources. Although the Ministry does not oppose the use of digital platforms for raising concerns, it strongly encourages the use of formal complaint channels to guarantee proper documentation and swift, institutional responses.

He further highlighted that the Ministry has developed multiple official communication avenues including a dedicated complaints unit accessible via email and telephone and is currently working on interactive digital applications to facilitate easier access for citizens and ensure a more efficient complaint-handling process.

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Rajabi, Professor of Digital Media at Middle East University, emphasized the powerful influence social media now wields in shaping public consciousness. "Today, a single post can traverse vast digital landscapes within seconds, transforming a local grievance into a national or even global cause," he said. Emotional storytelling, he added, has the power to galvanize public sentiment, compelling swift action from authorities and sparking widespread campaigns of solidarity.

However, Dr. Al-Rajabi cautioned that this same immediacy carries perilous risks. "Citizen journalism has fundamentally reshaped the public agenda, but absent rigorous fact-checking, it can lead to the magnification, distortion, or outright fabrication of events," he warned. This, he explained, can mislead public opinion, sow confusion, and complicate decision-making during critical moments. "It is a double-edged sword a force for good when wielded responsibly, and a vehicle for chaos when misused."

He stressed that content creators bear a profound ethical responsibility: to verify information before dissemination, to respect privacy, and to resist the impulse to rush to judgment. Al-Rajabi called for the integration of digital and media literacy into school curricula, as well as nationwide public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation and bolster critical thinking among users.

On the question of regulation, Al-Rajabi noted that Jordan possesses a robust framework of media laws and ethical codes that govern digital content.
"The challenge lies not in the absence of rules," he said, "but in inconsistent adherence and the rapid rise of untrained digital influencers who achieve fame without the grounding in media ethics necessary for responsible reporting." He further pointed to the role of social media algorithms, which prioritize engagement over accuracy, thereby fueling the viral spread of sensationalist and misleading content.

At the same time, he warned against the overregulation of free expression: "Freedom of expression must be safeguarded. Legal interpretations must not be so expansive as to silence legitimate discourse. Laws that demonstrably undermine free speech should be revised."
Interviews conducted by Petra with citizens reveal a nuanced view of the phenomenon.

Mohammad Al-Marashdeh recounted how, after exhausting official channels to no avail, he turned to social media to post his complaint resulting in a swift resolution. "These platforms have become an essential tool for citizens to make their voices heard," he said, "but they must be used with integrity and responsibility."

Dua’a Al-Hayari, a young citizen, voiced a more cautious perspective. "Not everything we see online is accurate or presented in context," she warned. "Unchecked sharing of misinformation can mislead people and harm the public interest."

In an increasingly fast-paced digital age, experts agree that cultivating public awareness remains the strongest defense against misinformation.
Ultimately, achieving a delicate balance between preserving freedom of expression and safeguarding society against the corrosive effects of false information is now more urgent than ever, for a single inaccurate post can ignite controversy, disrupt social cohesion, and inflict damage rivaling the grievances it purports to expose.

//Petra// AA

27/04/2025 13:50:08