Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint delivers an opening speech at the Youth and Social Media Public Talk. Photo: MNA
The Ministry of Information, Ministry of Education and Yangon Region Government jointly organised a youth-related public talk titled “Youth and Social Media” for all-round development of youth at Yangon University Recreation Centre yesterday afternoon.
The public talk was held with the aim of creating an opportunity to discuss matters required to be discussed between government officials and the public, in accordance to a democratic system, hopefully creating a habit of public discussion among themselves on matters occurring in their region, and increasing the people’s thought capability through participating in the discussion.
The public talk was attended by Union Minister for Information Dr. Pe Myint, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Region ministers, Yangon Region Hluttaw Deputy Speaker and Hluttaw representatives, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Information U Myo Myint Maung, Rectors, Pro-Rectors and officials of universities in Yangon Region, students and invited guests.
In his opening statement, Dr. Pe Myint said “Today’s public talk is mainly arranged by one of the departments of Ministry of Information (MOI), Information and Public Relations Department. The MOI has opened district and township offices to conduct public relations works nationwide. Now these offices are being arranged to be turned into Community Centres where the public can easily access and conduct their activities and hobbies.”
The aim is to create a place for the people in their townships to meet among themselves in order to discuss and exchange views on their own community, regional and countrywide matters. Through this, the local populace can meet among themselves as well as Hluttaw representatives, officials and members of state, region and people’s government who were assigned duties by the people can occasionally meet with the people to report back. The people can question, point out, suggest and inform their wishes and requirements to their representatives. After the representative speaks with residents, the representative can submit their discussion points to the policy makers and from this progress is hoped to be achieved, said the Union Minister.
“This is being done to support democratic practices in the country, to involve the participation of the people to manage and create (resolve) political matters in accordance with democracy or system of people’s government and increase the inclusion of people’s thoughts and ideas”, the Union Minister said.
It is not enough for people to elect their representative every four or five years to become a democracy or a democratic country. A democracy and a people’s government will become a reality only when the people let the country’s policy makers know of their wishes and requirements, insist to include it in the policy, point out, and criticise, said the Union Minister.
Political analysts used to say a democracy is successful only with the people’s total involvement. People’s involvement mainly means open discussion of their views and thoughts on their own community to the country’s political affairs.
In this way, some people say democracy is a government by discussion. In other words, it is a system of listening to the voices of the people and to put full consideration and to respect the wishes and wills included in these voices.
As mentioned before, information and public relation offices and libraries are being transformed into community centres. We are doing this by holding today’s public talk programme. According to this programme, events occurring in each region that are thought to be of interest and important for the majority of the populace will be discussed, said the Union Minister.
“Earlier, I said community centres. Today and tomorrow, it will be held in what is called Yangon University RC hall or Recreation Centre. Why this is held here is because firstly, a recreation centre is a place freely and easily accessible to the students. It is where events and sports competitions are held. Secondly, the topic we chose for this two-day public talk is specifically related to youth. The areas around Yangon University, Hledan, Kamayut in Yangon are places mostly frequented by Yangon youths.”
“That is why Yangon University RC hall was considered as convenient for many youths to attend and requested Yangon University Rector to hold this event here.”
“The audience needs to participate and discuss in today’s discussion. Freedom is the essence of democracy. Among this, the main thing is to express own opinion freely. Use this freedom. Listen to the lead speakers and ask question if anything is not clear. If required, add in. If there are differences in opinion, discuss from all sides. Relevant people will explain. This is one of the practices of democracy. I would like to end by saying use it by actually practicing it.”
Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein: Social media in today’s talk is reaching an important status. It can guide the whole country to a certain level. In the past, it was difficult to talk about the subject we want to say. Now, with one smartphone, we can say whatever we want on social media. In a democratic era, we need to take care that what we say does not hurt or harm others. It is related to the rule of law too.
With the widespread usage of social media network, opportunities for voices to be heard widely exist. People now have the opportunity to voice the country’s requirement so that the destination is reached. While a good leadership is in place, all need to work in unity. Discuss your wishes and wills and strive to reach the destination. All are urged to setup a mature democracy system via people’s voices by participating in public talks in their townships.
Afterwards, Public Talk under the title (Youth and Social Media” was held.
Information and Public Relations Department Deputy Director General Dr. Daw Thida Tin: Facebook is being widely used by young and old alike in Myanmar despite the existence of others like Twitter and You Tube. Many are seen playing games or using Facebook on their phone. Phone bills were spent. Visual efforts were exerted. Those are investment. It needs to be evaluated whether these investments are getting worthwhile news, information, personal development, knowledge, support for their lives.
Yangon Region Minister for Social Affairs U Naing Ngan Lin: Youth is the majority in the country and using social media effectively and correctly is important. As youth are the future leader of the country, wrong usage would be harmful for them.
He likes today’s youth using Facebook. As a politician, social media plays an important role. In power politics, organising the people, informing the people of one’s own acts can be done in a timely manner by social media. At the same time, statements and conduct of the country’s leader can be announced in a timely manner on a Facebook page.
Knowledge and information like health and environment could be obtained. But good and bad come together and improper usage could hurt many people. He would mainly like to discuss the ethics of usage. Youth need to use social media correctly, study and acquire knowledge and use it correctly.
The public talk held in progress at Yangon University Recreation Centre. Photo: MNA
Yangon region Hluttaw representative U Nay Phone Latt of Thingangyun constituency 1: The difference between social media and print media being speed. Today’s print media includes yesterday’s news, while social media provides today’s events. Hearing a fire engine goes by with sirens blaring, you can go out to see which way the fire engine goes to estimate the location of the fire. But now, on social media, you can see where the fire is and see the picture of it. Speed is the advantage of social media.
News and information on social media can be obtained without waiting a day. Speed may be good but speed is also a problem. When a matter is known quickly by people, they may be unable to verify whether it is true or not and unable to make an informed decision on it.
In print media, the facts and words are checked by an editor. In social media, this is not the case. There is weakness in spelling and factual correctness. Readers themselves need to edit (and fact check) and only then can benefit of Facebook can be acquired.
Information Matrix Co. Ltd, CEO U Thaung Su Nyein: The difference between print and social media said that as a print media person, social media is a partner as well as a competitor. Print and social media is in the stage of coming together. Print media can use social media as a distribution method. Once a top private weekly journal had about two million readers, but with social media, it can reach the country’s entire internet users numbering from 15 to 18 million.
Thus, social media is becoming a distributing platform for them (print media). Social media can be used as a news source for journalists. Social media is place where invention can be made. But a thing to note about social media is correctness of the information. It can be speedily provided wrong information. It is the fake news that make difference between the print and social media and is dangerous for a country.
Because of fake news on the Rakhine affair, difficulties and problems were being encountered. At the time, fake news was widely spread in social media. It is important to know how to respond to this. Whether it was in jest or deliberate, fake news is circulating and the role of traditional media is becoming important again.
The Door Institute and Social Enterprise CEO U Yan Naing Oo: The importance of knowing what is being done regardless of what forms of social media exist. Social media was used starting in 1998 and comes out in many forms such as Facebook and Twitter. The bad outcome of social media usage is being attracted to it, becoming less active in sporting activities, development of fake news, ease of being able to attack each other, becoming lonely and alone, and becoming depressed after being overcome by others. The good outcome is it enables people to meet others who could not be met physically, reach people in other regions, share feelings and increase social interconnection.
Next, audience’s questions on organising to use social media beneficially, how the day’s suggestions and discussions will be related to the government, ways to reduce the youths’ overwhelming attraction to social media were responded by Union Minister and discussion panelists.
Public Talk will be continued on 5 November under the title “Youth and job opportunity” and Yangon Region Minister for Kayin Ethnic Affairs Naw Pan Thinzar Myo, Yangon Region Hluttaw representative U Wai Phyo Han of Insein Township constituency 2, Information and Public Relations Department Deputy Director General Dr. Daw Thida Tin, Department of Labour Deputy Director General U Aung Htay Win, U Win Naing of JPE Everest Ltd, a local emplyoment agency and U Than Soe (CEO & Chief Editor, 7 HR Business Group and Two Four DMA Media Group) will participate in the discussion.
During October, three Public Talks were held under the title of “Youth and Social Media” in Kawhmu Community Center and under the title of “Danger of narcotic, an increasing threat to youth” in Mandalay Region Pyigyidagun Community Center and Kachin State Myitkyina Community Center. It is learnt that more public talks will be held.—Myanmar News Agency
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