Adgully Exclusive | It is essential that we understand the limitless potential of the social media: BBC's Mishal Husain

While the world is talking about the digitalization and the power of social media, Mishal Husain, BBC news presenter has taken it to her task to tell the world the growing supremacy and immense potential social mediums like Facebook and Twitter have. In a critically acclaimed two part documentary, called "How Facebook changed the world', Mishal Husain has documented the winds of change in the Middle East ' from Tunisia to Libya, from Egypt to Syria in a modern kind of revolution.

Adgully exclusively caught up with Mishal Husain to know the real, behind the scene action and the potential social media holds.

Speaking about what inspired her to take up a project like this, Mishal Husain said, "I have already been involved in covering the stories from these sensitive regions. I grew up in the emirates and the situations and stories that one hears there are just so compelling for you to critically think in that direction."

"Initially, I was a little skeptical about the presence of social media and highly sensitive places especially Tunisia", she remarked. "But as time has passed by, I feel that Facebook as a social medium platform has become very important in this region. It is one powerful and vital medium for people to communicate and share ideas and experiences", she said.

Husain is of the opinion that social media like Facebook have had remarkable changes in the way people receive and perceive news. "There was high unpredictability in news information dissemination as there were very limited sources and forms of news. Social media have in a way brought taking avenues for communicate, bringing along a sense of responsibility and discipline, adding "power to people'".

Speaking about the changes that social media has brought in the people's perspective, across the world, especially the Middle East, Mishal stated that, "What I see is that, for instance, with the fall of Gaddafi, people were literally drunk on the idea to communication and share their joy / sorrow with people all across. I feel that democracy, which was almost dead, would not be revived unless for the gift and power of social media."

Commenting on the reach and strength that social media has to spread information of what is happening in the Middle East, Mishal sharing her experience said, "In Tunisia, almost 20% of the Facebook users were there only for entertainment. But the harmless intention there, then became a part protests that began on Facebook. People online, struck a chord and questioned that, why can't we talk on the social media space to let people understand the happenings in our country. Thus, Facebook played an important role in collecting people, with one thought and one cause."

Adding further she said, "The death drama of Gaddafi in Libya, was filmed on the spot and moments later, it was all over Youtube and shared on Facebook as well. This is a clear indicator of the speed and power of the medium."

Highlighting some of the memorable moments that she experienced during the shoot of the documentary, Mishal said, "I remember in Libya, I saw a man, sticking pieces of paper on a huge wall. Going closer, I see that they are certificates and degrees of young men, who feel that these certificates are nothing but mere sheets of paper, they do not hold any value. People on Twitter would make staunch statements like, "you have blood on your hands", and would have numerous followers."

Adding further she said, "When I interacted with people, they said, "This is the moment when we bid farewell to dictatorship and can experience democracy."

Concluding her thoughts on her journey and experience Mishal said, "For me, the journey has been very humbling and enriching. To meet people who have seen so much and want to share it with the world, it was fascinating as well as disturbing at times. Voices of these young unknown people, totally passionate and incredibly brave, who are looking for opportunities to share and spread the word, it is essential that we understand the limitless potential of the social medium. It is a powerful medium for people to connect across borders, and share their owes and angst with the world". | By Ankita Tanna [ankita(at)adgully.com]