What we see on our phone screens are not merely fleeting posts or diverse opinions, but rather a streaming torrent of carefully broadcasted poisonous messages. These messages aim to construct a fabricated reality that sows anxiety, fuels fear, and shakes the citizen's confidence in their homeland. In a single moment, a calculated rumor can spread like wildfire, creating a state of collective panic, as if the country is on the brink of a crisis that exists nowhere except in the digital space.
اضافة اعلان
Today, Jordan stands in the face of a genuine media war. Traditional weapons are not used here; instead, misleading posts, images, and clips are the ammunition. Rumors about power outages, the depletion of goods, and countless upcoming crises are being pumped intensely to dismantle the community’s morale and plunge it into a whirlpool of doubt and confusion.
Perhaps some of these fears are plausible given a complex regional war where interests and conflicts intersect, making the internal front more vulnerable. However, dealing with these possibilities must be done with rationality and calm, not in a manner that incites chaos or bewilders the state and decision-makers, pushing them toward hasty reactions under the pressure of rumors and public hysteria.
I recall the harsh experience we endured during the COVID-19 pandemic, when livelihoods across the entire world were disrupted, and we lived through unprecedented moments of fear and anticipation. Why then this exaggeration and the incitement of panic among people, if not a direct targeting of Jordan and its stability?
I say here, reiterating what has been discussed in articles and dialogues: the nature of the threat has changed. The enemy no longer needs to cross geographical borders; they can now enter through social media platforms, infiltrating minds before territories. Here lies the real danger—these platforms are more potent and impactful than tanks and planes because they target consciousness, strike at trust, and dismantle society from within.
I write this as a journalist who stands firmly with my country today, for there is no neutrality in such moments, and no room for gray areas when stability is at stake. From this standpoint, I explicitly call for the temporary closure of social media sites—the "windows of chaos"—as a necessary step to contain the digital anarchy that triggers terror and panic among the people.
This proposal is not a detraction from freedom, but rather a protection of it from abuse. Only two decades ago, these platforms did not exist, yet society was neither silent nor deprived of expression. This means that these tools, despite their importance, are not the sole metric of freedom, and they must not be allowed to transform into tools that threaten the stability and cohesion of states.
Taking a decisive action to temporarily restrict or ban these platforms—while highlighting official and professional media—in light of the psychological and media warfare we face, is a legitimate defensive measure. Countries resort to such steps when facing threats to their internal security; the arena cannot be left open to anyone wishing to spread rumors or broadcast toxins without deterrence.
O Jordanians, we are facing a true battle of awareness. It requires bold decisions, sincere national solidarity, and the realization that protecting the internal front is no less important than any other confrontation.
Jordan will remain strong, God willing, but its strength also begins with the awareness of its people and their ability to distinguish between truth and misinformation. So, will we see the windows of chaos closed soon?
