Bahrain focuses on social media use during crises

Tokyo, Apr.24 (BNA): The high penetration rate of social media in the Arab world warrants a series of crucial accords on specific moral ethics and important agreements on clear legislation to ensure that modern communication means are not misused to undermine social cohesion or to erode national unity, a Bahraini officer has said. “When we look at the penetration rate of leading social media and microblogs in the Arab world, we realize how critical they have become,” Maysa Abdulateef Al Thawadi, the head of the Follow Up Directorate at the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) said. Figures from 2014 indicate that the penetration rate of Facebook in the United Arab Emirates was 54 per cent, 47 per cent in Qatar, 43 per cent in Kuwait, 36 per cent in Bahrain, 28 per cent in Oman, and 27 per cent in Saudi Arabia. Around one third of Arabs rely on social media as their principal source of news, a rate that is equal to the number of those who use traditional media. “The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have been paying special interest to the media in crisis management through promoting public awareness and deepening a national sense of responsibility and partnership,” Maysa said. “However, there is a profound need to constantly study the possible links between social media and emergency situations. Studies should focus on how such media can affect the situation on the ground and their effect on local, regional and international perspectives regarding any development or disaster. There are always great advantages in the use of social media. But there may also be the possibility some social media could be maliciously misused to fuel harmful allegations and spread damaging lies, particularly in times of crises or disasters, whether they are natural or manmade,” she said. Maysa was speaking at a seminar on the role of media in crisis management in Tokyo as part of the 10th GCC Days. Her paper focused specially on "crisis media" as the intercultural event shed light on media cooperation between GCC countries and Japan. The GCC Days opened in the Japanese capital on Wednesday with a massive participation by media and economy figures, diplomats and academics from the Gulf and Japan. The three-day event on April 22-24 included economic, political and media seminars and aimed to consolidate cooperation, friendship and open dialogue between the GCC countries and Japan. The GCC, established in 1981, comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. “The GCC Days were launched to reach out to the international community and to help people gain greater insights into the GCC identity, culture and achievements. The GCC common drive, in line with the GCC media strategy, also includes highlighting political advances and social accomplishments at international events,” Maysa said. Tokyo was the second Asian capital to host the days after South Korea’s Seoul in 2011. The other eight GCC days were held in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, The Hague, Madrid, Rome, London and Stockholm.