“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie

Negative impact of social media on Youth

Although we talk about the negative impact of social media on youth but we never take any actions though! Following are the main negative impacts of social media on youth: depression, anxiety, complex, laziness, lust, bullying, adapting, and getting educated about inappropriate things/behavior.

Social media can be an amazing tool if use properly. It provides us with immense information on any topic. It can be a great educational tool as several tutorials are available on the internet on diverse topics. To make better use of social media a few step should be taken. Parental control is the fundamental in this regard. Set reasonable boundaries. Discuss with your child how to keep social media from interfering with his or her activities, sleep, meals, or homework.

Encourage them to follow a bedtime routine free of electronic media, and keep cellphones and tablets out of their bedrooms. Set a good example by adhering to these guidelines. Explain what isn't acceptable. Encourage your child not to gossip, spread rumours, bully, or harm someone's reputation – online or off. Discuss with them what is appropriate and safe to share on social media. If we try just these few things we might have youth positively impacted by social media. Social media can also provide significant potential benefits. It can foster a sense of community and facilitate the assistance of friends. It can motivate people to seek assistance and share information and resources. More frequent social media use has been linked to an improved ability to share and comprehend the emotions of others.

Noor Fatima,
Karachi

Weak Governance and Political instability leads to economic crisis in Pakistan

Pakistan is in the grip of a multifaceted crisis. Its economy is on the verge of collapsing due to a potential political crisis, a plummeting rupee and decades-high inflation, devastating floods, and a significant energy shortage.

Pakistan is experiencing a severe economic crisis and clearly requires external assistance. Foreign exchange reserves are dangerously low, covering only a few weeks' worth of imports. Inflation is at its highest in decades, growth is slowing, and the central bank has raised interest rates dramatically in response to a weak currency. Food and fuel prices are causing real hardship for ordinary people, and the country's economic problems have been exacerbated by the floods.

Pakistan's economic crisis has many causes. Weak governance and political instability have been significant factors, undermining investor confidence and contributing to corruption and pork-barrel politics that have harmed the country's fiscal position. Pakistan is also heavily reliant on imports, particularly energy, making it extremely vulnerable to increases in global oil and gas prices. The pandemic did not help, and Pakistan's strained relations with India continue to deprive it of a potentially transformative trading and investment partner. Government needs to take urgent steps to resolve the issue. To get out of the crisis, Pakistan will need more than $9 billion. However, much of the funding should come from private sources. The value of IMF funds is to act as a stopgap, restoring confidence and encouraging private flows to resume.

Umme Hania,
Karachi