Low Digital Literacy Challenges Yemen’s Social Media Programming World

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Alia Mohammed

Websites are known as a collection of pages programmed using a specific programming language or multiple languages linked together. The programming and design of websites in Yemen have witnessed significant development and increasing demand for website programming services. Many companies offer these services in various specialties and fields, reflecting the advancement of technology and the internet sector in Yemen. These programs and services meet the diverse needs of users in various fields such as digital banking, online shopping, and electronic money management and payments.

Programming Social Media Websites

Social media websites are electronic platforms that allow users to create accounts enabling them to communicate with others electronically and provide various written, visual, and audio content and blogs. These electronic platforms have virtual groups that bring individuals with common interests and concerns together.

In 2014, Magid Al-Ja’amani launched the Odle network as the first Arabic social media network similar to Facebook, surpassing 500,000 subscribers in its early stages. Odle met the needs of young people in multiple languages and with a different character, providing quality services to specific groups.

Odle provided tools and applications that respect the privacy of journalism and its requirements, enabling journalists to edit news, produce reports, and integrated journalistic materials. It also provided tools for publishing videos, images, maps, and controlling links to ensure easy and accessible communication for everyone, with many options available.

In 2023, the Yemeni software specialist, Radfan Al-Kaladi, managed to create the Arab Back platform, which simulates Facebook and Twitter while respecting Arab customs and traditions, surpassing 10,000 users within 48 hours of its trial launch.

Radfan did not stop there, but also designed several electronic systems and programs, selling them to companies and institutions. It is worth mentioning that he worked on the electronic government project, the first of its kind in Yemen. A discouraging reality and a low digital culture.

Disappointing Reality & Lack of Digital Culture

Fath Al-Rabi’e (a web, API and mobile applications developer and programmer) began his programming journey in 2019, specializing in developing informational, e-commerce, news, blog, portfolio websites, and delivery applications.

He adds, “The beginning was difficult in terms of learning, development, and gaining experience, and it took a long time to grasp the field. My desire to learn programming made me more patient. Al-Rabai’e describes the software reality in Yemen as discouraging, with no real interest in this field from the relevant authorities. The programming culture in Yemen is still low, in addition to the lack of encouragement to pursue work in such fields and specialties, and the discouragement of young people’s project ideas”.

He confirms that the programming environment in Yemen varies from one province to another depending on the availability of effective programming companies. He also believes that the city of Aden hosts few programming companies, and if they exist, they do not offer sufficient amounts for work, forcing programmers to seek employment in different fields.

Furthermore, while programming jobs are among the highest-paying jobs in the world, programmers in Yemen do not receive appropriate compensation, leading to a low number of programmers in the country.

Al-Rabai’e points out that there are many creative programmers in Yemen, but their creativity continues to be utilized by foreign or local companies that give them their rights, as remote work opportunities have become available. Many young people, including myself, work remotely with local or foreign companies, in addition to freelance work.

Challenges & Difficulties

Waddhah Basalih, an electronic programmer, says, “Several projects have been launched in Yemen, but unfortunately they have not achieved the desired success and significant interaction, due to users’ interaction with Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) platforms.”

He adds, “Yemeni programmers face a number of challenges and difficulties with users, as a result of their lack of technical awareness in the field of programming. For example, when we are asked to create specific applications and programs, users are not convinced by what we offer and insist on designs they have found on other websites.”

He emphasizes that the main obstacles they face include poor internet speed in Yemen, in addition to the decline in electricity service, which hinders the implementation of developed programming plans.

Basalih also adds financial challenges, limited resources, and funding for development and maintenance, as well as the difficulty in attracting investors and donors to support programming projects.

He stresses that there are many young people with creative ideas, but they are unable to implement them due to lack of funding, and some of them rely on personal funding.

Website Programming Requirements

There are some basic requirements and essential matters that should be available when starting the programming process, according to experts in this field. It begins with understanding the basic idea on which the website will be created, gathering the necessary information, and planning the idea by defining the website’s work mechanism and function.

After that, the design and construction of the website occur, through which the programmer can make a first impression on the website visitor and reflect their interest. In addition to having programming experience with at least knowledge of two programming languages, through which the programmer can realize the idea on which the website will be built.

Beginners in the programming field should seek out platforms that adopt the idea of ​​implementing projects, join educational platforms, and apply for real projects that simulate corporate and real-world projects. In addition to keeping up with all new developments and technologies and applying them in their future projects.