Anyone observing Jordanian social media from abroad could easily conclude that nothing in the country is functioning properly, that its institutions are ineffective, and that the rule of law is absent.
اضافة اعلان
The controversy surrounding the "Black Iris Park" case, which dominated public discussion over the past week, illustrated this phenomenon. Public opinion quickly split into opposing camps, with many embracing one side's narrative before the facts had been fully investigated.
The case became a test of the nature of Jordan's public discourse and how society responds to national issues.
There is a fundamental difference between monitoring the performance of the state and watching it while anticipating its failure. It is neither fair nor reasonable to judge an entire country because of a single mistake or even because of a narrative that has yet to be fully established.
The debate soon expanded beyond the incident itself, evolving into broader criticism of state institutions and their procedures.
This pattern has become familiar. With every new controversy, social media effectively establishes its own courtroom, where accusations are rapidly distributed, verdicts are issued before investigations conclude, and both individuals and institutions are condemned.
The criticism often escalates further, portraying every administrative mistake, disputed decision, or corruption case as evidence of the collapse of the entire state.
Such an approach is neither fair nor conducive to the reform that many Jordanians seek.
No one claims that Jordan is free from mistakes, corruption, or favoritism, every institution includes dedicated professionals, as well as individuals who may make errors or misuse their positions.
That is precisely why laws, oversight bodies, the judiciary, and the media exist.
The real problem begins when society loses the ability to distinguish between institutions and the people who temporarily manage them or between the state itself and individual officials.
Officials may make mistakes and be held accountable, and they may ultimately leave office, The state, however, is not a single individual, a temporary government, or one administrative decision. It is a cumulative national institution built over decades through the efforts of thousands of professionals who have quietly contributed to its development.
Without that institutional foundation, Jordan would not have been able to withstand the wars, economic crises, refugee influxes, and security challenges that have repeatedly tested its limited resources over the years.
Yet despite these pressures, the country has maintained its stability, preserved the functioning of its institutions, and continued to make progress in education, healthcare, public services, and government administration.
This does not mean the picture is perfect. But it is certainly not as bleak as the image often portrayed on social media, where Jordan is presented as a country without functioning institutions or the rule of law.
Regrettably, some Jordanians contribute to reinforcing this perception. Posts written in moments of anger or based on incomplete information become accessible to audiences around the world, shaping international perceptions of both the country and its society.
Every citizen has the right to criticize public institutions. At the same time, the nation should not be reduced to its mistakes or judged solely through the lens of a single incident.
Public oversight is an essential democratic value and should be protected.
However, it loses its purpose when it replaces the judicial process, becomes a platform for issuing premature verdicts, or serves as a tool for settling personal or political scores based on preferred narratives.
Today, social media often rewards emotional reactions over careful verification. Allegations spread faster than facts, leaving the truth to arrive only after public opinion has already been formed.
Jordan needs citizens who monitor government performance, demand accountability, and ask difficult questions. But it also needs citizens who trust that their country's institutions are capable of correcting mistakes.
Responsible citizenship requires strengthening oversight institutions, supporting the rule of law, and recognizing that justice is not determined by whichever social media post gains the most attention.
