Gov't urges social media activists to help counter hate speech

AMMAN — The government on Tuesday said social media activists should play a key role in the fight against hate speech and resentment via social networks and ensuring that such rapidly spreading tools are used for the common good. 

"It is the duty of the government, corporate, citizens and users to make sure that social media tools are used in the right and proper way… The government cannot do it alone," Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said in an address at the Social Media Summit Jordan, which attracted hundreds of experts in the field of social media and technology.

"We all need to make sure social media are used properly and positively as some use it for evil purposes," said the minister, adding that governments across the world need to pay further attention to the increasing usage of social media tools.

Zain Jordan Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Hanandeh  stressed that the increased usage of social media added pressure on operators, making it one of the key challenges facing the industry.

"The number of social media users and adoption of smartphones is growing rapidly in Jordan," said Hanandeh, adding that smartphones penetration in the Kingdom stands at 60 per cent at present and that 150-300 mobile users switch to smartphones per day. 

"Before the time of social media, customer experience with a brand used to be shared in the form of storytelling and within a closed segment. Today, customers can share their experiences with thousands in seconds," he said, adding that social media have given consumers a voice that is heard and shared. 

Citing international figures, Hanandeh said there are 3.2 billion internet users in the world, of whom 2.3 billion are active social media users .

He added that 91 per cent of retail brands use two or more social media channels and nearly 1 million new active mobile users join social media daily.

Around 57 per cent of social media users have more than 100 friends on Facebook  and 25 per cent have 100 followers on Twitter, he said.