In places where silence once sheltered power, change is stirring. A phone, a post, a signal, etc now carry the force of protest. Despite its flaws, social media is becoming an archive of resistance, where the voiceless gain both voice and audience. No credentials but just the truth is needed. Raw, unfiltered posts often strike deeper than official speeches. What begins as a solitary cry can spark collective resolve. In a nation where truth once vanished quietly, the digital space makes it loud, visible and unforgettable.
Consider the rising number of cases where abuse, injustice or violence, especially against women or marginalised groups, comes to light not because the system worked, but because someone clicked “record”. Incidents that would once dissolve into folklore or family shame now enter the digital bloodstream, often reaching national attention before authorities can contain them. Institutions that were used to acting without being seen are now forced to react under public gaze.
Yes, social media has its share of venom. Trolling, fake news, performative outrage, etc, all are real. But alongside these, something remarkable is happening. Power is becoming more visible. And visibility, while not the same as justice, is its beginning. A witness who once had no place to speak can now show the world what happened. A daughter can post what her village wouldn’t let her say. A victim’s story, once buried, can now resurface as evidence.
More than just platforms for opinion, these digital spaces are becoming unofficial courthouses, where cases are tried not in silence but in sunlight. While hashtags don’t ensure verdicts, they do prevent vanishing. They create memory, momentum, and sometimes, movement.
What’s unfolding is a shift in the rules of engagement. Institutions must now learn to function not in shadows but under scrutiny. This is not just technological evolution; its ethical reawakening. Even if justice is not guaranteed, neglect is no longer invisible.
In this evolving public square, one thing is clear: you can still deny justice. But you can’t deny the footage.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
