Navigating the Pros and Cons: Social Media’s Entry into Yemen

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Ahmed Bajoaim

In the late 20^th century, Yemen witnessed the introduction of local internet service through the company Tele-Yemen for Telecommunications. As the 21^st century began, the number of service users continued to rise steadily, attributed to rapid technological advancements. The widespread adoption of social media at that time brought about a significant transformation in lifestyle patterns and methods of interaction and communication among people.

Social media platforms evolved from mere virtual spaces to the nerve center of social life in many countries around the world, including Yemen. According to the website Mawdoo3, the origins of social media can be traced back to 1844 when the American inventor Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, one of the oldest forms of social media throughout history.

According to the website A’reeq, the telegraph entered Yemen in 1893, 49 years after its invention, and it only operated using light for short distances. This raises several questions about the impact of social media on people, the influence of this development on social and interactive life, and the key content and uses of publishing at that time.

Social Media in Yemen

Dr. Adeeb Al-Shatri, a faculty member at the universities of Aden and Hadhramaut, stated, “Social media in its early days was primitive and faced great difficulty in its use. Messages often took days to be delivered or replied to, and the number of users was very limited, mostly from the educated class.”

He added, “Today, social media has become abundant, user-friendly, and easily accessible, allowing for quick access to the desired information. Previous communication tools like fax or mail facilitated interaction but had difficulties such as lack of clarity and susceptibility to damage.”

Al-Shatri further emphasized, “Modern programs have provided many facilitations, solving numerous difficulties and obstacles that users, such as journalists, faced in quickly accessing and disseminating information, as well as in creating public opinion. With the expansion of social media platforms, notably Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, and Google search engine, they significantly contribute to influencing society and shaping public opinion on many issues. Additionally, many pioneers of these platforms have found job opportunities and achieved financial income.”

Bahamid also mentioned that social media, since its inception, has brought about a qualitative leap in all aspects of life and sciences, presenting a new image of the world. It has transcended geographical boundaries, turning the Earth into a small village. He noted that the new versions of applications are merely extensions of traditional communication methods like postal mail, telegraph, and fax, but developed and presented in a better and faster manner, facilitating widespread usage with the proliferation of smart devices.

In the same context, the editor-in-chief of 30^th November newspaper, Salih A’skool, explained that social media has made a significant leap in both societal and official levels due to its speed and the level of interaction with the public.

He added, “Since the internet service providers entered Yemen, the use of social media has increased, and the community has shown interest in it, as it saves a lot of time, effort, and money in obtaining the desired purpose for the user. All of this has contributed to the development and advancement in various fields, unlike before its invention, when people’s lives were filled with hardship, fatigue, ignorance, and primitiveness in most sectors.”

A’skool further stated, “Given that we work in journalism, social media has made a qualitative leap in the world of journalism, significantly advancing this field. This is attributed to the increased level of follow-up and promotion as required. Additionally, diverse social media platforms have enabled journalists to obtain information and sources and deliver it to the public urgently, as well as to search for the required details and other necessary information.”

Previously Published Content

Dr. Al-Shateri continued his discussion of the contents of publications at the beginning of the use of social media, saying, “With the beginning of the use of social media sites in Yemen, the contents of publications ranged from official and most important topics, in addition to news and press reports. And in general, those who hold the reins of the content of publications are a certain class of people, and by that we mean intellectuals, academics, and those with thought and opinion.”

He added, “On the social side, content related to social, political, and cultural events that occur in Yemen can be published, and this may include distributing news, keeping up with the latest developments, discussing and commenting on them.”

Dr. Al-Shatari believes that the contents of publications in Yemen on social media sites used to include general ideas and opinions on various topics, as well as the possibility for individuals to publish articles, messages, and comments on political, social, and cultural issues. However, it was not in the form we see today with the abundance of available content and interactions by users. Active digital communities have formed that possess strong interaction and influence on the daily lives of individuals and society alike.

Ahmed Zain Bahameed expressed his opinion, saying, “There is no doubt that every period of time in the life of nations has its own image; for example, freedom of the press and publication used to follow the political life in the country, and then the methods of publication and media dealing changed in terms of news, analysis, freedom of writing, and the number of workers in the field of journalism; therefore, publication is affected by the surrounding circumstances.”

He adds, “It can be said that the contents of publications were previously almost restricted and subject to censorship, or rather, only a certain class of people had them with a unified political direction for the public. Like today, censorship of the contents of publications and freedom of expression is almost non-existent, and this has positives and negatives.”

Bahameed added, “Among the positives of recent publications is not being subject to censorship or a specific entity; rather, it has become available to everyone, and anyone can publish any content provided it is not contrary to ethics and teachings of Islam.”

He continued, “The positives also include providing opportunities for companies and commercial entities to promote themselves through advertisements, as well as social media providing greater job opportunities for people. As for the negatives, there has been an increase in confusion and the publication of content with little credibility due to this freedom of publication. Most of the content and publications that are published today through the media are not true and not reliable, and this reduces the credibility of public opinion and its trust in obtaining information.”

Effects

Dr. Al-Shateri believes that the impact of media is a double-edged sword in terms of credibility and information accuracy. This is due to the weak electronic censorship and lack of restrictions (meaning that the publishing process is available to anyone with an account on these platforms without verifying the information and its credibility). It can be used as a tool for enlightenment and raising awareness, but it can also have the opposite effect.

It is also worth noting the impact of social media in general and its ability to create public opinion and high mass momentum around any issue or topic.

Al-Shateri continues, saying, “In recent years, multiple and proliferating media can affect the systems of countries thanks to the media buzz it creates at the public opinion level. It also contributes to social and family influence, either positively or negatively depending on the methodology followed by the user.”

He adds, “It can be said that the majority of the effects caused by different media are negative due to several factors, including that most of its users are from the low class in the educational side, weak verification of content, and the spread of false information. However, there is a positive impact created by these means, and the recipient should focus on it and invest it properly.”

According to a report by Data reportal, which specializes in digital data, the number of internet users in Yemen is 9.10 million users, and the internet penetration rate was 26.7% of the total population in 2023. The number of social media users, according to the site’s second-quarter annual report for 2023, reached 3.05 million users out of a total population of 34.07 million people in Yemen, which was recorded in January of last year. The number of mobile phone users, including smartphones, was 19 million.

Through these numbers, it becomes clear to us that the number of internet users is large compared to the population of the country, and hence the impact of these means is very significant on public life.

He continues, “Among the effects is the proliferation of platforms that have worked to spread rumors, especially after the conflict in Yemen. Such news is deliberately spread by various parties so that the people remain in conflict and far from the truth. This type of influence is negative, discouraging, and threatens stability for years to come.”

As Askool pointed out in his statement, the direct or indirect impact of social media has caused social conflicts by spreading low-quality or unreliable content and drawing false perceptions about information or the general reality of society.

He adds, “On the other hand, there are positive effects that have contributed to enhancing public awareness and facilitating access to reliable, educational, and cultural information, in addition to conveying meaningful messages and introducing cultures to communities, exchanging experiences, building relationships, and other positives that would have remained limited and unknown without social media.”

The beginning of using social media in Yemen was an important event that changed the way individuals and groups interact in society. It also played a significant role in raising awareness about social issues and human rights. This contributed to strengthening civil society and democracy around the world, including Yemen, as well as having negative effects.