Social media is used in today’s world for connecting, informing, trading, entertaining, communicating, and identifying. Millions of people have access to it and use it in various fields. Recently, its use for information dissemination, entertainment, and political message exchange has increased significantly.
Since 2021, when former politicians, officials, and opponents of the Taliban fled the country, their direct/physical contact with Afghan society diminished or disappeared altogether, their influence waned, and animosity towards them increased. The departure of these officials towards isolation continued rapidly. To somewhat control everything, they politicized social media to a great extent and shifted from physical opposition/armed conflict to virtual and media battles.
Exiled politicians, officials, and opponents have been holding online meetings for the past four years, exchanging views on Afghanistan and making such promotional statements that become hot topics or headlines on social media upon publication; this has turned into a tool of media pressure, which they repeat multiple times, but the impact on the caretaker government has been minimal.
The media and propaganda campaigns of the fleeing officials have recently had a diminishing impact on the general public, as these failed figures still seek power, authority, and support through outdated narratives. They turn a blind eye to the actual realities of society, prioritize personal interests above all else, have failed every virtual meeting of opposition, and have spread propaganda statements and rumors about the caretaker government that differ from the actions of the caretaker government and prove all rumors to be false.
Former politicians have a significant presence on social media, especially on X (Twitter), because it is a platform where presidents of countries, organizations, high-ranking diplomats, international media, and globally engaged political groups are present. Former politicians also have a wide presence there and want to convey their messages to them, gain trust, and establish connections. However, this tactic has failed because they had decades of rule in Afghanistan, lost all trust, and their every effort is now ineffective.
These fleeing politicians usually encourage the international community to increase sanctions against the caretaker government on social media. They not only seek to impose more restrictions on the current government but also want to isolate the people of Afghanistan and subject them to multiple crises. However, these demands are practically futile, as direct interactions between the caretaker government and the international community continue, and both sides have concluded that resolving the existing challenges is only possible through dialogue and understanding.
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