Over the last decade, extensive literature has been published regarding social media effects on real-life political participation. Many argue that social media stimulates online and offline political participation. This study investigates how online political activities impact political efficacy and real-life political participation among university students in rural Pakistan. In addition, this study also sheds light on the relationship between political activities and political awareness. We conducted an online survey of ( N = 200) male and female undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Narowal, Pakistan. We used Qualtrics software to distribute our survey among students for data-collection purposes. The results reveal that the majority of the students use social media for political awareness and information. Political efficacy is significantly based on online political participation. In addition to that, social media is a vital platform for netizens to participate in real-life political activities. In conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that online political activities strongly correlate to political awareness and offline political participation. In rural areas of Pakistan, the younger generations are very active on social media to participate in online and offline political happenings.

This study aims to understand public discussions regarding COVID-19 vaccine on Parler, a newer social media platform that recently gained in popularity. Through analyzing a random sample (n = 400) of Parler posts using the hashtags #COVID19Vaccine and #NoCovidVaccine, we use the concept of echo chambers to understand users’ discussions through a text analytics approach. Thematic analysis reveals five key themes: reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine (40%), side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (28%), population control through the COVID-19 vaccine (23%), children getting vaccinated without parental consent (5%), and comparison of other health issues with COVID-19 (2%). Textual analysis shows that the most frequently used words in the corpus were: nocovidvaccine (348); vaccine (264); covid (184); covid19 (157); and vaccines (128). These findings suggest that users adopted different terms and hashtags to express their beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Further, findings revealed that users used certain hashtags such as “echo” to encourage like-minded people to reinforce their existing beliefs on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and vaccine acceptance. These findings have implications for public health communication in attempts to correct false narratives on social media platforms. Through widely sharing the scientific findings of COVID-19 vaccine-related studies can help individuals understand the COVID-19 vaccines efficacy accurately.

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ObjectiveSocial and mobile media are playing a significant role in the digitization of health sectors globally. New technology provides an opportunity for stakeholders (i.e., patients and healthcare professionals) to engage with each other in virtual environments to discuss health-related issues. This study examines the role of social and mobile media in digitizing the health sector in Pakistan through MARHAM, the platform which is the subject of this case study.MethodA thematic content analysis of MARHAM’s social media (Facebook group, Facebook page, and Twitter account) and mobile media application (“app” and website) were chosen for sampling. Some 6083 group posts, 1724 tweets and 1123 Facebook posts populated our sample.ResultsAnalysis results indicate that MARHAM’s Facebook group most often fields patient inquiries. The most discussed health issues were: women’s health issues (43.23%), children’s diseases (16.63%), psychological issues (15.45%), dental issues (9.50%), skin problems (5.93%), others (5.04%), and obesity (4.19%). MARHAM’s Facebook page and Twitter account were mainly used for health education and awareness. Their mobile application and website were used by healthcare professionals and for patient registration.ConclusionThe study’s results suggest that MARHAM is playing a significant role in the health sector of Pakistan, addressing primarily women and children’s issues through their Facebook group. Like many who have an online presence, MARHAM faces certain challenges, including the public’s low literacy rates and scant Internet access.

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