Social media and fracturing of Pakistan’s political discourse          Author: Durdana Najam

The article highlights Pakistan’s deepening political polarisation since Imran Khan’s ouster in 2022, showing how social media has become both a mirror and a megaphone of division. With the number of users soaring from 31 million in 2017 to nearly 67 million in 2025, digital platforms have turned into echo chambers where algorithms feed on outrage, favouring emotionally charged content over facts. The Islamabad Policy Research Institute’s study highlights how platforms like X, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok have shaped perceptions differently, with X fuelling division most strongly, TikTok softening it somewhat, while others hover in between. What emerges is a society increasingly trapped in “us versus them” binaries, where political actors weaponise social media with PR campaigns, influencers and propaganda, leaving ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of misinformation, hate speech and half-truths.

Institutions that once commanded respect now face discrediting attacks online, while algorithms reward outrage over accuracy, and weak media literacy worsens the storm. Yet the article doesn’t leave readers hopeless. It underlines that reforms like digital literacy, algorithm regulation and inclusive discourse could turn the tide, provided Pakistan’s leaders rise above tribal politics and embrace collective responsibility. The message is clear that social media itself is not the villain, it only reflects the society that wields it. If Pakistan can check polarisation through civic education, institutional transparency and a multi-stakeholder approach, the same digital tools that now divide may one day unite.

Overview:

The article underscores that social media has become the new battleground of politics in Pakistan, amplifying division rather than bridging differences. Algorithms thrive on anger and tribal loyalty, while weak media literacy and manipulative political actors deepen the fractures. Yet, by treating digital spaces as arenas for civic growth instead of ideological warfare, Pakistan still has a chance to steer its discourse back to reason and inclusivity.

NOTES:

The article highlights how Pakistan’s political polarisation has intensified since Imran Khan’s removal in 2022, with social media emerging as the chief battleground of ideas and division. User numbers surged from 31 million in 2017 to nearly 67 million by 2025, transforming digital platforms into echo chambers where algorithms amplify outrage, privileging emotions over facts. The Islamabad Policy Research Institute’s study shows X (formerly Twitter) as the strongest driver of polarisation, TikTok as relatively less divisive, and platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram as having weaker or neutral effects. Political parties exploit these spaces with PR campaigns, propaganda and influencers, leaving citizens exposed to misinformation, hate speech and half-truths. As institutional trust erodes under online attacks and media literacy remains weak, the article stresses that digital literacy, algorithm regulation and inclusive discourse are essential steps to counter fragmentation. Ultimately, it conveys that social media is not inherently the villain but rather a mirror of society’s divisions, which can either deepen divides or, if wisely managed, pave the way for unity.

Relevant CSS Syllabus or Subjects:

• Current Affairs: Political polarisation and media’s role in Pakistan
• Pakistan Affairs: Institutional trust, democratic erosion and social fragmentation
• Political Science: Media theories, polarisation, civic education and digital democracy
• International Relations: Comparative study of political discourse in the digital age
• Essay: Democracy, digital media, misinformation, challenges of polarisation

Notes for Beginners:

The article says that social media in Pakistan has made politics more divided. For example, apps like X show more angry political posts, making people fight online, while TikTok is less divisive. Political parties use social media to spread their own stories, sometimes with false information, which makes people lose trust in leaders and institutions. The study suggests teaching digital literacy in schools so people can spot fake news and not fall into echo chambers.

Facts and Figures:

• Social media users in Pakistan grew from 31 million in 2017 to 66.9 million in 2025.
• 5% of survey respondents agreed that social media has made politics more polarised.
• X showed a positive correlation with political division, TikTok a negative correlation, while Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram showed weak or no correlation.
• The IPRI study used Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient to measure links between platforms and polarisation.

To wrap up, the article is a call for Pakistan’s digital democracy. It tells us that while social media has magnified division and mistrust, it also offers a roadmap for repair. The path forward is not through censorship or silencing voices but through education, responsible regulation and institutional integrity. If leaders and citizens can join hands to tame the fire of online outrage, then the same platforms that now divide can become bridges of dialogue and cohesion.