The Impact of Digital Space on Societal Peace and Social Cohesion

Author: Kriti Bhattarai

Digitalization is linked to technological advancement, limiting the world in our conciseness. Digital spaces are one of the powerful innovations of this age that have brought the world together. Digital platform offers the opportunity to connect, collaborate, interact, socialize, communicate, collaborate, and interact socially.^[1]

Digital space as a revolution to society:

The Global Web Index has claimed that people spend an average of 6.5 hours on the internet every day and those age groups from 16 to 24 are among the highest consumers spending an additional 2.5 hours online. The Forbes writes that internet users are expected to reach 7.9 billion by 2029. With the rise of internet users (67.1%), digital platforms (62.6%) have revolutionized our ways of communication, and how we work and interact with people around us. The digital space encompassing social media, online communities, and digital news platforms, has influenced our social dynamics, impacting societal peace and social cohesion.

Societal peace and social cohesion:

Peace is not just the state of mind, it depends on how a society functions and how they value the inter-connectedness among one another. Moreover, in the present context, there are numerous factors contributing to peace and its sustainability. Among those is the social cohesion within a society. When we discuss social cohesion there are various explanations and some may even contradict. Theoretical assumptions around social cohesion are based on the various disciplines of academic studies. George Simmel, a sociologist argued that in the past, people in preindustrial societies usually interacted with a small, familiar group of people. But with advancements in transportation and communication, modern individuals now interact with many different social groups. This allows them to develop unique identities and gain new resources, but it also creates more chances for conflicts between these diverse groups.^[2] In the age of digitalization, maintaining societal peace and social cohesion is thus a double-edged sword, with different kinds of pros and cons.

The Impact of Digital Space on Societal Peace and Social Cohesion in the Context of Nepal:

As per data provided by the Nepal Telecom Authority (NTA) based on the population projection (2021-2030), Ninety-one percent of the country’s population has access to the internet in the country. At the start of 2024, there were 15.40 million internet users including 13.50 million social media users, equating to 43.5 percent of the total population. Digital space has become one of the prominent tools for many leaders to support their election campaigns. During the election of 2022, digital spaces both social media and online news portals were full of such campaigns and the reason behind this was explained as social networking platforms offer wider reach at low cost and minimal effort.

“Occupy Baluwataar” is one such example of a social campaign that utilized digital space. This campaign continued for 107 days and people from various social, cultural, and professional backgrounds came together to speak for Sita Rai, Shiba Hasmi, Bindu Thakur, and Saraswoti Subedi, all victims of violence against women. Some of the campaigners started a Facebook page and Twitter handle naming the protest “Occupy Baluwatar” and later was joined by prominent civil society organizations and leaders led to the portrayal of this campaign as one against violence against women.^[3] The major impact of this digital space-led campaign was that a probe committee was formed to investigate all the cases mentioned above and complaints filed as per the committee’s recommendation. Moreover, it set an example of how digital space can aware people and impact decision-making. We can say that regardless of the occurrence of incidents where the use of social media has fuelled hatred, division, or violence, one cannot ignore the potential influence of social media use in protesting against socioeconomic and political injustices, promoting intergroup relations and communications, empowering people for peace, and mobilizing communities for change.^[4]

At present, the Government of Nepal, aiming to establish the country as a hub for information technology, has set ambitious goals in the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24, presented by Finance Minister Barshman Pun. The government will ensure high-speed, reliable internet, protect intellectual property, and revise the Digital Nepal Framework for effective implementation and monitoring, with a budget allocation of Rs 690 million. The Digital Nepal Framework was prepared in 2019 including three major themes, i) One Nation, ii) Eight Sectors (includes agriculture, health, and education as a priority among others) iii) 80 Digital Initiatives.^[5] Now the government has planned to revise the framework for its effective implementation, intending to develop the country as an IT hub. It is positive that the government is planning to develop its infrastructures for digital advancement, we must take an account that Nepal is a country with diversity where social peace and harmony are vital. Maintaining social cohesion is challenging as it is multi-dimensional, but this perspective is crucial in peacebuilding and maintaining a harmonious society. While we aim to improve Information Communication Technology and create an opportunity for more digital space, we must remember that digital spaces are a double-edged sword, with the potential to unite and divide society.

Digital Space on Societal Peace and Social Cohesion opportunities and challenges:

Undoubtedly, digital space has created a platform where the globe can come to one place for communication and interaction. This global connectivity fosters a sense of belonging and shared identity, which are crucial for social cohesion. It has made the interchanging of information fast and easy. People across the country and within the country with diverse social and cultural backgrounds can connect through digital platforms like social media. One call or a post on social media can amplify the issue as a campaign. Campaigns like One Billion Rising #MeToo brought together millions of people around the globe who regardless of their social or cultural background united for a solidarity movement against physical and sexual violence against women. Such digital spaces can play a vital role in conflict prevention, mitigating it, and establishing peace. An example from Kenya that portrays how social media can play a vital role in curbing political violence can be discussed here. Through the social media monitoring technology, developed by iHub in 2013, the Kenyan government was able to foster civic participation, transparency, and accountability during the elections.

As per Betz, social media also plays an important role and “is a key source of up-to-date news and information for many people, helping to counteract the shortcomings of the traditional media.^[6] He emphasizes the role of such digital spaces in conflict prevention and peace-building as they support bringing different groups together for discussion, improving governance, increasing knowledge of complex issues, providing early warnings, and an outlet to express emotions and motivate for peace.^[7] Similarly, by providing a voice to the marginalized and enabling collective action, digital spaces contribute to societal peace by addressing and resolving conflicts through dialogue and awareness. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and blogs allow individuals to share their cultural practices, traditions, and perspectives. This cultural exchange promotes understanding and tolerance, essential components of social cohesion. By exposing people to diverse viewpoints and lifestyles, the digital space helps break down stereotypes and prejudices, fostering a more inclusive society.

While digital space provides many opportunities, as discussed earlier, there are equally challenges that may hinder the overall peace and maintaining social cohesion. Spread of misinformation, issues of cyber safety, the digital divide, and promoting extremism are some of the major challenges that need to be mitigated to benefit maximum from the use of any digital spaces. While digital platforms offer a plethora of information, they also create echo chambers where individuals are exposed primarily to views that reinforce their own beliefs. Algorithms on social media platforms often prioritize content that aligns with users’ existing preferences, leading to ideological silos. This polarization can fragment societies, eroding trust and understanding between different groups.

Another challenge posed by the digital space is cyber safety. Cybercrimes have posed a challenge to the world due to their anonymous share. Social media harassment, online defamation, internet fraud, email scams, identity theft, breach of privacy, abuse of personal data, and attacks against computer data and systems are a few examples of cybercrimes[8]. Online child sexual abuse (OCSA) can be taken as one of the key concerns in a country like Nepal. The different experience of OCSA includes Seductive chat/call followed by nude photos. Others include ads, scams, blackmailing, etc. Most respondents who are female experience receiving nude photos and instant seductive chat/call as a form of OCSA.^[9] OCSA are prevalent issue that can have severe psychological impacts on victims. These negative interactions undermine social cohesion by fostering an environment of fear and hostility. The targeted harassment of individuals based on race, gender, religion, or political views disrupts societal peace and undermines efforts to build a respectful and inclusive community.

Challenges to digital space in maintaining societal peace and cohesion are not limited to the above-mentioned issues. The issue of the digital divide (the gap between those who have access to modern information and communication technology and those who do not) is another concern that can exacerbate existing social inequalities, leaving marginalized communities further behind. Access to digital technologies is not uniform across different socio-economic groups. The digital divide is a predominant factor hindering the attempts of peace building and keeping away the digitally enabled media and services from a large population in need.^[10]

Another major concern is that extremist groups utilize the advancement of these mass-communication networks including digital spaces to instil and disseminate their agendas and ideologies towards people irrespective of countries, backgrounds, and other differences. Social media are also facing constant pressure from governments to augment their endeavours in combating the spread of violent extremism online.^[11]

The latest example of this can be the case of dispute among Hindu and other ethnic groups in Dharan, an eastern side of Nepal, in August 2023.

Conclusion

Promoting digital literacy, teaching individuals how to critically evaluate online information and engage responsibly on digital platforms, drafting and implementing better policies and regulations for online safety, and bridging the digital divide can be some of the major steps for creating a safer digital world. Ensuring equitable access to digital resources is crucial for maintaining social cohesion and preventing societal fragmentation. Digital platforms should foster inclusive communities by implementing policies that promote respectful discourse and protect against harassment. Besides the government, tech companies are also responsible for considering the societal impact of their platforms. Ethical technology development involves creating algorithms that do not exacerbate polarization and implementing design features that encourage healthy, constructive interactions.

By understanding its impact and implementing strategies to promote positive interactions, we can harness the power of digital space to enhance societal peace and social cohesion.