Interaction session titled “Reading Culture and Social Media” held in Srinagar

Srinagar, April 13: An interaction session titled “Reading Culture and Social Media” conducted by Jammu and Kashmir’s one of the prominent news portals Onlykashmir[dot]in was Saturday held at a local hotel in Srinagar. The event saw the participation of many individuals from different walks of life.
At the beginning of the event, Bilal Bashir Bhat, Chief Editor Onlykashmir[dot]in welcoming the guests stated the motive of the programme was to discuss the productive level of the Social Media and its effects on the reading culture at large.
Speaking on the occasion, Khurram Wani, young columnist said the fact can’t be denied that Social Media is evolution as such it has become a compulsion to use it in a positive way, adding, one cannot blame everything on change in culture and social media.
Imtiaz Chesti, Chairman Center For Youth Development’ lauding Bilal Bashir Bhat for conducting such programs said there is lack of literature in Social Media which ultimately after even browsing for hours online fails to feed food for positive thoughts.
Prominent debater and journalist Rameez Makhdoomi while putting his comments on the topic stated that the world of social media is totally contrasting to the offline world. He said the statics and thoughts updated on Social Media are totally far from the ground reality, adding, it hampers creativity as much of the time is spent on forwarding things to others.
Sanam Ajaz, Kashmir based renowned news anchor said, the Social Media is directly a hidden attack on our privacy. He said without any doubt the Social Media has turned a tool to spread vulgarity in our part of the world.
Adnan Arshid Chairman Angles Home School said with the growing influence and liking towards social media, it will surely become difficult to fill the room with books. He said teens are just trying to find themselves and prioritize socialization over reading something alone.
Mir Imran, an activist while commenting on the occasion said Knowledge can be gained through any medium either through reading or through social media but It’s hard to gain wisdom when you stay in and do the same thing day after day. So do things differently. You need to take your own education and learning into your own hands.
Young scholar Tauseef Mir built his argument on the premise that nothing is good or bad but the individual take on the same shapes it the way one executes it. He said that social media may have influence on reading habits, health as well as relationships but a regulated use could turn it into an asset for the individual.
Khair ul Nisa, a student speaking on the occasion said most of the time is spent in searching what others are doing, which can be well spent in reading which at least adds knowledge to your own life. She said good reading habit makes way for a better understanding of one’s experiences however social media mostly indulge the cravings of people rather than what is good for them.
Besides others President J&K Young Journalist Association Ajaz Ahmad War, Chief Editor Weekly News Kashmir Farzana Mumtaz, Sub Editor Daily Srinagar Jung Muhammad Umar Bhat, Hira Sultan a researcher, Director Phoenix Coaching Institute Manzoor Sultan, Mir Kaiser, prominent young Activist Nasir Khuhami, Writer and Spokesman Kashmir Students Body Younus Rashid, Activist and Writer Adv Gazi Muzamil, Ishfaq Ahmad and Iqbal Beigh were also participated in the event.
At the end of the event Bilal Bashir Bhat thanked the participants and stressed about the need to work constructively so as to not deny ourselves the benefits of social media.
Pertinent to mention here, Onlykashmir[dot]in is among the first few news portals of Jammu and Kashmir founded by Bilal Bashir Bhat.