Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Thursday cautioned that fake news circulating on social media has become the greatest challenge of the digital era. He emphasized that in todayís world, it is vital to use social media responsibly and to strike a balance in the face of rapidly evolving technologies.Speaking at the closing session of the National Cyber Security Seminar, the minister underscored that a grasp of cybersecurity must start with demographic realities.

Pakistanís digital landscape, he noted, encompasses more than 117 million internet users, 148 million mobile broadband subscribers, and upwards of 79 million active social media accounts.He said, digital life today is split along a generational fault line. On one side are the digital immigrantsóthose who stepped into the online world later in life, adapting to its rapid evolution. On the other are the digital nativesóa generation born into cyberspace, fluent in its language from the start.

Speaking on the divide between generations, he noted that digital natives tend to navigate technology instinctively, while digital immigrants are still learning to use social media responsibly.He emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cybersecurity awareness, stressing that effective outreach must be tailored to different audiences through diverse channels, strategies, and language.The Federal Minister highlighted the rapid evolution of Pakistanís cyberspace over the past four decades.

Reflecting on the media landscape, he pointed to a gradual and systematic shift from traditional platforms to electronic media, describing it as a natural progression.He noted that print media has undergone a complete transformation, evolving into electronic formats through a comprehensive process of change.He noted that during this period, editorial oversight existed, boards of directors were in place, and in the early 2000s, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was established, introducing a formal regulatory framework.

He said this structured process enabled the evolution of media. However, the subsequent shift from electronic to digital media was an unnatural transition for which no one was prepared.This change arrived suddenly, and it was accepted as it came. He added that due to the rapid pace of this evolution, there was a lack of an adequate regulatory framework, limited awareness, and the main reason was a lack of understanding, as it took significant time to grasp cyberspace, cybersecurity, and its realities.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)