Digital junk food

During the Pakistan National Youth Convention on August 21, and in a separate meeting with a delegation of Harvard students, the COAS rightly warned about the perils of junk information spread by social media.

We often think of junk food as unhealthy snacks, but what if I told you there’s another kind of junk food that's just as dangerous? This one doesn’t harm our bodies – it harms our minds. Mental junk food, like social media and viral rumours, is filling our heads with useless and harmful content. In Pakistan, while many can’t afford fast food, this mental junk food reaches nearly every home, especially through the smartphones in our children’s hands.

Just as junk food is designed to be tasty and addictive, but lacks any real nutritional value, so too is the content on social media that engages us with little effort, entertains us for hours, but leaves us unfulfilled and disconnected from reality. This is what we can term as ‘mental junk food’. And just like its physical counterpart, its excessive consumption is proving detrimental to our collective intellect and ability to engage in meaningful discourse.

Pakistan’s youth spend hours scrolling through memes, celebrity gossip, and sensational news. Social media algorithms keep them hooked on this shallow content, offering emotional satisfaction but little substance. The consequence? A generation lost in noise and confusion, unable to separate fact from fiction. Despite having access to more information than ever before, they are increasingly susceptible to misinformation and propaganda, lacking the digital literacy needed to discern truth from falsehood.

This is particularly concerning in Pakistan, where literacy rates are already low, and digital literacy is even further behind. The flood of unchecked information on social media has made it difficult to have any meaningful dialogue. Distractions and distortions run rampant, leaving people vulnerable to misinformation and unable to identify nonsense. Rather than fostering critical thinking and analytical skills, social media has turned into a breeding ground for the spread of falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and outright lies.

There is very little cost of sharing information. With just a computer and the internet, anyone can create content that looks professional but is filled with inaccuracies. Algorithms, built to keep us engaged rather than informed, spread this content quickly, reaching thousands, sometimes millions, in minutes.

Falsehood flies and truth comes limping after it. This was clearly shown when a person from Lahore spread false news about a Muslim individual’s involvement in killing girls in the UK to earn dollars. The fake news led to protests against Muslims in the UK, and by the time the truth came out, the damage was already done.

The spread of old-style misinformation – fancy language without facts – has now been replaced by a new kind. This new misinformation uses science, statistics, and even maths to seem credible. Sadly, our education system does not focus on teaching people how to critically analyze this information. Because of this, even educated people are easily misled by technical-sounding misinformation.

Media platforms, particularly print media, once focused on delivering factual and well-checked content, but now chase clicks with sensationalism. Today, the headlines that get the most attention aren't the ones sharing important facts but those that stir emotions. This trend is happening worldwide, and it's very visible in Pakistan.

So, what can be done in the face of this overwhelming digital junk? First, we need to emphasize the importance of education in critical thinking and media literacy. Our institutions should not only teach students how to access information but also how to assess its credibility. Fact-checking should become second nature, and the ability to separate fact from fiction should be ingrained in our education system.

As Pakistani society becomes more digitally connected, the onus is mainly on academia, think tanks, leading media personnel and society to prepare the next generation to navigate this complex landscape with discernment and wisdom.

Media professionals today need urgent upskilling to effectively spot falsehoods, especially when misinformation comes disguised as numbers, statistics, or forecasts on technical topics like energy and regulatory issues. With complex data often being used to sway opinions, journalists and media workers must sharpen their skills in understanding and interpreting technical subjects accurately.

Just like physical junk food, mental junk food is harmful when over-consumed. Pakistan's youth need to understand that, while it may be fun for a moment, it lacks the depth and substance needed for real intellectual and emotional growth. Instead, they should focus on content that challenges their minds, sparks meaningful discussions, and builds the critical thinking skills needed to succeed in today’s complex world.

Avoiding digital distractions is important for all of us, especially the younger generation. By creating healthier habits, they can tap into their full potential and contribute positively to both their personal growth and the country's future.

While staying focused in this digital age can be challenging, it’s something we can work on together. Encouraging a mindset rooted in facts, thoughtful engagement, and critical thinking can help build a more informed and balanced society. As we navigate this changing world, prioritizing meaningful content will benefit not only individuals but also the collective well-being of our nation.

The writer is a professor of economics at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.