IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE FACE OF GLOBALIZATION: PAKISTAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Internet usage in Pakistan has been growing exponentially in terms of access, subscriptions and roll-out-of-content and services coupled with the recent mobile broadband innovations. Facebook is considered the most popular social platform, with Google the second followed by Twitter and Instagram (Yusufzai, 2016). In Pakistan over 30 million people are registered internet users out of which, 15 million get access to internet through cellular devices. Over 155,000 Pakistanis have Twitter accounts, whereas the number of Facebook users is considerably higher at 15 million. Social media has been gaining vast popularity among the masses. Cheap mobile broadband coupled with inexpensive smart phones is adding to this number rapidly. People are inclined towards social media to easy and cheap way to spread their opinions, share experiences, offer suggestions and give feedback on topics of common interest. It has led to a massive rise in both positive and negative activities. The Government of Pakistan has certainly taken into account this issue and has taken some meaningful steps and hopes to do more in this sector to curb the unlawful and illegal acts and get a control over it.