- Experts at St. Xavier’s College emphasized responsible social media use to foster social cohesion and rebuild trust in Nepal’s post-conflict society.
- Journalist Chandrakishore urged users to "pause before you post" to ensure digital content promotes diversity rather than dividing communities.
- Speakers called for unbiased, inclusive media and compassionate storytelling to bridge differences and support the transitional justice process.
- The MediaTalk Series highlighted how communication guided by truth and empathy can effectively promote social harmony and mutual understanding.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Experts have urged social media users to exercise greater responsibility and pause to consider the possible consequences before posting content on digital platforms, stressing that a single social media post can divide people while responsible communication can help connect communities.
The remarks were made during the 42nd edition of the MediaTalk Series organized by St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu. The programme brought students and speakers together for a constructive discussion on the role of communication in promoting social cohesion, rebuilding trust and advancing transitional justice in Nepal’s post-conflict context.
Senior journalist Chandrakishore highlighted the importance of diversity and coexistence in society, drawing an analogy with nature, where different species coexist within an ecosystem. He said social harmony and cohesion similarly depend on allowing different voices and viewpoints to be heard, respected and coexist.
Addressing the students, Chandrakishore called for greater caution while using social media and urged them to “pause before you post.”
Rights activist Sheikh Nahida Banu called on media organizations to remain free from cultural, political and linguistic bias. Referring to the essence of a statement by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, she stressed the need for independent and inclusive media.
Actor and producer Rabindra Singh Baniya emphasized the importance of compassion and listening to the stories of others. He encouraged participants to understand the emotions and feelings of people whose experiences may differ from their own.
College Principal Fr. Dr. Augustine Thomas, S.J., commended the initiative and said the media has the power not only to inform society but also to influence how people understand one another.
He said communication should be guided by truth and discernment, with the common good at its centre. According to him, the MediaTalk Series provides students with an opportunity to reflect on how their voices can contribute to social cohesion in an increasingly divided society.
Chun Bahadur Gurung, faculty coordinator of the MediaTalk Series, said the programme has continued to provide a forum for dialogue among students for the past six years.
He said the series has become particularly relevant in view of Nepal’s post-conflict situation, pending transitional justice mechanisms and recurring social tensions. Communication, he added, can play an important role in promoting social harmony and understanding.
The 42nd edition of the MediaTalk Series therefore focused on the growing influence of digital communication and the responsibility of individuals and media practitioners to promote dialogue, empathy, diversity and social cohesion through their use of communication platforms.
