Social media has transformed the way people view news and governments

The inaugural Social Media Summit, held at the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa on Monday, heard governments and the media have to adapt to how younger generations are now using technology.

DUBAI // Rapid growth of technology and social media has changed the way people in the Middle East receive news and view governments.

The inaugural Social Media Summit at the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa on Monday heard governments and the media had to adapt to the way younger generations are using technology.

“Governments must now engage with their citizens in a proactive way,” said Samir Al Rifai, the former prime minister of Jordan who is now a senator and chairman of the foreign affairs committee.

“For the younger generations who have grown up with social media it is no longer good enough for governments to react to news, they must be more active in getting their message across.”

People are far more likely to believe information they receive through social media sharing than traditional means, Mr Al Rifai said.

Social media also provided an opportunity for governments to get their views across directly to citizens without the filter of a news editor.

“Technology now means young people in the Middle East identify themselves more with young people from around the world than they do with their forefathers,” he said.

He said 30 per cent of people in the Middle East considered social media their main source of news.

“The younger generation expect their governments to be transparent and be responsive to their needs,” Mr Al Rifai said.

“They are the generation that has grown up with the Xbox and YouTube, so state television isn’t good enough for them now.”

He said younger people wanted their governments to be honest, efficient and accountable.

Mohammed Burhan, chief executive of CNBC Arabia, said the role of the media had shifted from news gathering to news verification.

“Anyone with a smartphone can now report and take pictures of something and put it on Twitter. That means our role as the media must be first of all to verify it.”

Media groups can no longer set the agenda and were often reacting to news breaking on social media.

Osman Sultan, chief executive of du, said social media and technology would provide the platform to allow people in the Middle East to reach their potential.

“We have been given a three-year deadline to transform Dubai into the world’s first smart city,” Mr Sultan said.

As part of those plans, thousands of sensors will be installed in lifts, apartments and lampposts, he said.

“This will allow for a foundation whereby people can come up with apps or services that can help people.”

Mona Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Media Office, told delegates that social media was the “new majlis” in the UAE.

In the UAE’s early development the majlis was a way for the public to speak to the leadership about issues affecting them, Ms Al Marri said.

“Throughout the past 42 years, the people in our country have undergone massive changes, starting with a journey to seek simple needs such as food, education, health and peace and ending with impressive cultural diversity.

“Transforming from a very basic society to a remarkably sophisticated community adopting the most advanced technologies which we all live with today.”

She praised Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, as one of the first world leaders to use social media.

About 54 per cent of the UAE population have a Facebook account with 900,000 people signing up last year, Ms Al Marri said.