KRAIT
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Well your explanation about social media and decay of information is quite right. I agree that any opinion that is formed through social media decays faster than opinion based on Mainstream media. Many people don't even watch MSM programs but are online most of the time using Facebook or Twitter.Given that all the social media sites are based in the US, they are subject to US government bias. Organizations that are deemed hostile to US interests (and marked as terrorist or otherwise persona non grata) will be blocked by US-based social media companies, while others will flourish. In other words, the US government has become the arbiter of what constitutes free speech around the world........
Demographically, people who are intelligent enough to see the reasons behind events occurring around them are more inclined to MSM rather than social media. I am not saying they don't believe on information from Word Of Mouth (WOM) communication through websites , but they certainly like to make their own judgment based on all the information they gather from all sources.
But in majority of populace like in our country, the majority people who don't have internet connection, their opinion is based on newspaper and news channel. Word of Mouth communication between people (physical conversation) is also important. But there emerges a new phenomenon called SOCIAL INFLUENCE. (we left WoM through social media)
Social influence is the pressure that an individual experiences as people around him/her follows certain ideology. Even if these people don't believe in MSM or not have conversation with the followers of certain ideology, this pressure makes them accept the trending notion.
It is also called HERD BEHAVIOR. These people give more weight to other peoples' decision rather than their own.
So when we talk about MSM, WoM and Social Influence, even if small population gets affected by MSM by govt. or other ideas propagating on Internet, WOM and Social influence takes over the role of Internet based social media.
Now considering Critical number of population who adopted certain idea presented by the experts etc. on MSM. It leads to emergence of followers of these experts and learned people and IF this population becomes this Critical population ( which believing in MSM and these experts), the Anonymous forums on internet and their followers faces tough challenge to change peoples' opinion.
The competition emerges among the MSM and Social media, where initial number of followers matters a lot coz, WoM of Social media is stronger than that of MSM but the decay rate of Social Media is way higher than MSM. (Look at Competition Model of Products from two or more Companies)
In case of GoI, GoI failed to use or control the social media in initial stage which created a critical mass or critical number of population. Once you have this critical number of people against any decision, things are out of control even from Govts.
That's why GoI wants more control on social media. And they use the same thing against "illegal Bangladeshians". It is just like product placement by companies similar to what Mastan sir said. For future, GoI will make more stringent policies.
The keywords that should be looked into for more details are :
External influences like news channel, advertisement etc.
Internal Influences like Word of Mouth (WoM) and Social Influences.
Critical Population
Time taken to reach the Critical population
Now these Internal Influences, whether it is digital or physical, plays the major role in success of any ideology (especially after Critical Number) and hence affects the Govt. steps that follows .
This attack and Mehran attack, has resulted in people who are now more concerned about the security structure within Pakistan rather than other issues like Kashmir etc. Since the drone strikes, OBL raid and TTP raids and attacks, people now want action to be taken for their security. What I see is any action by Pakistan Army even on its own people to get rid of extremists will be backed by majority of Pakistanis and this support will come too fast which save the time for implementation of such decisions, which is crucial for stability of already peaceful regions.
P.S. I apologize if this post in confusing, if people have any doubt or criticism, kindly share.