Social media needs to balance between ethics and profit
As much as social media has given voice to the marginalised, it has its own side effects, says Ali Jaber
Artificial Intelligence and citizen journalism have revolutionised media over the last two decades, with social media influencing people in unprecedented ways, said Ali Jaber, Group TV Director of MBC.
He was speaking at the 18th Arab Media Forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Social media platforms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon have a huge impact on people in the Middle East. However, these platforms come with their own side effects, he said.
“People like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos had promised to change the world, make it a happy and peaceful place, but now all they are interested in is revenues,” alleged Jaber. When these platforms were established, it was, indeed, a breath of fresh air, he said. But now, they are used by people for hate speeches and terrorist rhetoric, he said.
Though Google and Facebook claim to trace and delete distasteful content, they have failed, said Jaber, who said that Google is in fact controlling the minds of people. “It is no more a scientific observation tool. It tracks and records your every move,” he alleged.
Recalling an incident when delivering a lecture at Google, Jaber said, he was surprised at how he was introduced to the audience. “They had detailed information about my past achievements. Even if people forget and forgive you for saying something a decade ago, Google will remember it,” he joked.
“Everything revolves around algorithms. It is the black box of social media,” he claimed. Users are never informed by technology giants about why they change algorithms. Citing the example of Volkswagen, Jaber said, cheating pollution emission tests was possible only because Google algorithms were altered to favour the company, he alleged.
He urged social media giants to take more responsibility and strike a balance between profit and ethics.
“At MBC, we have 22 channels and sweeping changes are being brought to adopt anti-terrorism rhetoric through community partnership programmes twice a year, with the aim of empowering Arab media and producing intelligent and sensitive content,” Jaber explained.
