TY - JOUR AU - Amber Javed, AU - Noor Elahi, AU - Bahadar Nawab, PY - 2023/04/15 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Navigating the Intersection of Social Media and Countering Violent Extremism in Pakistan JF - ASIAN Journal of International Peace & Security (AJIPS) JA - AJIPS VL - 7 IS - 1 SE - DO - UR - http://ajips.org/index.php/ajips/article/view/2023-vol-07-navigating-the-intersection-of-social-media SP - 1 - 19 AB - <p>In the fight against extremism, social media is becoming crucial for shaping public<br>opinion and promoting peace. Pakistan has a growing emphasis on building a counternarrative to combat extremism. This study focuses on the potential and effectiveness of<br>social media in promoting counter-narratives against extremism and combating<br>radicalization in Pakistan. The research emphasizes the role of various actors, such as<br>government institutions, journalists, and peacebuilders in? The data was collected<br>through questionnaires from 120 journalists and peacebuilders across Pakistan. The<br>results indicate that social media is a popular source of information but is considered<br>unreliable and inaccessible to many regions and populations. The analysis of social<br>media platforms emphasized the significance of reaching the appropriate audience<br>through the appropriate platform. In conclusion, the study shows that social media has<br>the potential to play a crucial role in countering extremism in Pakistan. However, both<br>government and non-government organizations need to harness its power effectively.<br>The study suggests that social media may not be sufficient in isolation and recommends<br>a multi-faceted approach that utilizes the strengths of various media sources. Further<br>research is required to explore ways to improve the use of social media for<br>peacebuilding goals.</p> ER -