The Dark Side of Social Media: Fueling Violence and Social Fragmentation

by Irshad Ahmad Mughal and Dr. Qurat-al-Ain Rana

While social media has revolutionized global connectivity, its darker consequences demand urgent attention. What began as a platform for sharing ideas has morphed into a dangerous catalyst for physical, religious, and economic violence—particularly in traditional societies struggling to adapt. In conservative communities, the sudden influx of pornographic material on smartphones has triggered extreme reactions, including so-called “honor killings” in rural areas. Even within households, these devices breed distrust; spouses obsessively monitoring each other’s privacy, often accelerating marital breakdowns. The same tools that connect us are tearing relationships apart.

Religious leaders face unprecedented risks in this digital age. A single spontaneous sermon can spark fatal backlash from rivals wielding fatwas—less about doctrine than silencing influential voices. This polarization reflects a deeper generational clash: youth increasingly addicted to digital libertinism, while elders cling to fading cultural norms. Social gatherings, once vibrant with conversation, now see attendees absorbed in solitary scrolling. Streets that buzzed with activity now lie quiet as citizens prefer virtual activism—Twitter debates, YouTube polemics, and WhatsApp groups replacing physical protests and intellectual discourse. Yet these “knowledge corridors” often prioritize performative hot takes over substantive dialogue, reducing complex issues to viral soundbites.

The normalization of real-world violence through social media marks one of its most disturbing impacts. Unlike cinematic violence—clearly fictional and emotionally distanced—graphic smartphone footage of actual brutality leaves psychological scars. I recall watching a video of a daylight motorcycle shooting in Pakistan: no scripted heroics, just raw terror. Such uncensored content spreads unchecked because, unlike traditional media bound by ethical SOPs, social platforms incentivize viral sensationalism. Users chase likes by uploading increasingly extreme material, from staged pranks to authentic violence. When these clips go viral, consequences ripple offline—inciting copycat crimes, vigilante justice, or sectarian clashes.

Religious hatred finds fertile ground in this ecosystem. Deepfakes and doctored imagery target sacred figures, algorithmically amplified to maximize outrage. Political instability follows the same pattern: a single edited clip can mobilize mobs before fact-checkers intervene. Economically, while digital platforms create opportunities, they also reward ethical compromises. Businesses monetize controversy, pushing boundaries until even violence becomes marketable “content.”

Reversing this damage requires collective action. Platforms must deploy advanced AI and human moderators to curb harmful content—not just reactively, but preemptively. Governments need updated cyber-laws with teeth, paired with digital literacy programs to help citizens navigate this minefield. Most crucially, users must resist the dopamine rush of outrage, recognizing how their clicks perpetuate cycles of harm. Without intervention, social media’s descent into chaos won’t remain virtual—it will redefine reality itself. The time for passive scrolling is over; the age of accountability must begin.

About the authors:

Irshad Ahmad Mughal and Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Rana form a formidable intellectual partnership in contemporary Pakistani scholarship. Prof. Mughal, renowned for his Urdu translations of Paulo Freire’s revolutionary works and decades of teaching political philosophy at Punjab University, joins forces with Dr. Rana, an accomplished sociologist and social commentator whose razor-sharp analyses regularly grace Pakistan’s premier journals. Together, their collaborative writings for Pressenza weave rigorous academic insight with urgent social critique—bridging Western critical theory with South Asian realities to illuminate pathways for transformative change.”