DUBAI: The second day of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai staged an interesting panel discussion about the social media powerhouse, ‘X’. Held at the Museum of the Future Stage, the discussion featured prominent personalities from various fields. Eyad AlHmoud, Dr. Adil Sajwani, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, all influencers on the X platform, shared their thoughts on the power of words, responsible content creation, and the impact of social media on society. The discussion was moderated by Mohamed Al Jaberi, a creative leader, strategic planner, and influencer.
AlHmoud, a Saudi social media influencer with 5.1 million followers on X, discussed the importance of being mindful of the content shared on such a powerful platform. Drawing from personal experience, he highlighted that free speech must be accompanied by accurate and mindful information.
“The X platform is powerful in the medium of the word. It’s important to make sure you are delivering the truth and consider the responsibility you have as a truste
d source,” he noted.
Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a widely respected Professor of Political Science with a huge following on X, shared his perspective on the responsibility that comes with discussing sensitive topics like politics on social media.
He said, ‘I believe as human beings we should debate amongst each other and controversy is not always a bad thing, but it is important to be factual and conscious of our voices on big platforms such as X. Politics itself can be sensitive because it is directly related to countries, global affairs, etc. Talking about politics can make those in discussion very defensive and can create heated debates.’
‘I love words and I believe that words can be more impactful than imagery in a lot of ways. The ‘Word’ is a message, and is a big responsibility for those that utilise it. It is in my opinion that a lot of people are transformed from being ignorant to people who are informed, and that is a powerful thing and necessary for societal growth,” Dr. Abdulla added.
Dr. Adil Saj
wani, a leading Emirati family doctor and medical influencer, discussed his unexpected entry into social media and the importance of patience. He noted, “I got into social media by chance after being told by a lot of my peers and family that I should share my expertise and opinions as I have a talent for delivering information in a way that people can relate to and understand. You have to have a lot of patience in a public space like X. The only person you can control is yourself and we need to remain respectful and considerate to others, even when conversation gets heated. Carry yourself with dignity and try to deliver factual and helpful information.’
Source: Emirates News Agency