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Social Media in LKA: Do Science & Reason stand a chance?

By Nalaka Gunawardene

Science Writer & New Media Researcher

Keynote address at

Science, Technology & Society Forum

#STSLka

Colombo, #LKA: 9 Sep 2016

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Coming up…

Headline figures on web & social media users

Diversity of social media types in Sri Lanka

Global Cacophony: join & engage or avoid?

Science vs. Pseudoscience & Anti-Science: battle has now extended to social media!

Which side is winning in Lankan social media?

What can scientists & science communicators do to promote rational discourse online?

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Like it or not… Social Media now part of Lankan life!

Selfie taking during massive rains and floods in mid May 2016

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Social Media: Now part of our comm. landscape

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Social media: Many types/functions

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How many SM users in LK?

3.5 million Facebook subscribers by Nov 2015 (www.internetworldstats.com/asia.htm)

Suspected: 10-20% FB accounts ‘fake’?

Some multiple accounts by same person too

119,000 Twitter users by Dec 2015

FACT: Social Media use rising every year

REALITY: Most don’t use SM for more than simple chatting…

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Lankan blogospheres Blogs: part of social media landscape

Blogging active in LKA in Sinhala, Tamil, English

No of bloggers: varies, but 2,000+

They cover EVERY aspect of LKA life, incl:

‘Taboos’ largely avoided by mainstream (e.g. caste factor in society; LGBT rights)

Critiques of ‘Sacred Cows’ (clergy, military)

Leading bloggers command loyal, growing audiences: beginning to rival low-selling papers

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Billions of fleeting conversations on hundreds of platforms, 24/7/365

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https://twitter.com/NalakaG/status/773850198975971328

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https://twitter.com/NalakaG/status/773833859934793729

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Scientists do enter SM chats, offering helpful advice…

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What to make of this ceaseless Global Cacophony?

How many among us pause to reflect: where is all this chatter taking us? Are we any clearer, better informed or wiser? Is there a way we can ENRICH our social media experiences? Answer lies with… each one of us!

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Social Media can be used strategically for….

Non-formal science education

Science & Tech outreach (info dissemination)

Open conversation on new research

Public discussion of a new policy with a science or technology dimension

Campaigning for/against a new S&T related policy, practice or product

Raise critical thinking among the public

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SM is cheeky… Get used to it!

“This is the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s land”

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Yet, SM is ALSO the latest medium for myths, pseudoscience & non-science!

‘Scientific-looking’ fabrications spreading fears & paranoia on food, medicine, technologies

Practitioners of occult & paranormal peddling quick fixes to your problems – for a fee!

Dubious recipes, products & services being marketed as ‘ancient knowledge’

“Get to know Lord Ganesha, so he can help you” Workshop

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Is the OPPOSITE of this true for most Lankans today?

Have social media ‘turbo-charged’ Sri Lanka’s spread of superstitions, myths, myth-based cottage industries & pseudoscience? What implications for our post-war society?

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Example 1: Spreading demographic myths

Claim: Muslims (9.3% of LKA pop. in 2012) set to become majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka by 2090

This is a complete distortion of demographic facts/trends = hate speech based on false science!

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Example 2: Conspiracies of an ‘infertility plot’

“Pakistani spices now in Lankan market designed to make Sinhalese infertile, say health authorities”

Total fabrication, but widely shared online & believed by some!

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Example 3: Conspiracy Theory on espionage

“Muslim-owned Etisalat telecom co has given free SIMs to some Sri Lanlka Army soldiers, so as to spy on the military thru’ these devices!”

Mischievous misinterpretation of marketing by legitimate telco

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Example 4: Pervasive Ravana myth

Taking Indian epic Ramayana as real, some Lankans believe in a pre-historic King Ravana & his ‘technological feats’ incl. flying

No archaeological evidence at all!

Artist’s impression of King Ravana of Lanka (???) and his flying machine

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Exasperated by all this, I once asked in my column…

https://collidecolumn.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/when-worlds-collide-84-have-lankans-suspended-disbelief-permanently/

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Can social media be used for promoting skeptical inquiry?

Web & social media: CONTESTED SPACES

Freedom of Expression: sacrosanct – even if it is sometimes abused by peddlers of mis-info…

Our big challenge: Vaccinate public with rational thinking!

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WHERE to find skeptical inquiry & rational thinking in today’s Lanka?

Cartoon by Awantha Artigala, Wijeya Newspapers

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Much at stake!

Op-ed on why scientific literacy is vital for Lanka: Daily FT, 7 Sep 2016 http://www.ft.lk/article/566259/Scientific-literacy---Intellectual-Vaccine--Sri-Lanka-badly-needs

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In a dismal landscape… I see some signs of hope

Most maintream media uncritically peddling pseudo-science & anti-science

Newspapers & TV earn big money by advertising astrological & black magic services

Sri Lanka Rationalists Assn (<100 members) keeps protesting - but NOT in social media!

Counter-narrative emerging in SM: led by young, irreverent, irrepressible persons!

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Irrational state action often critiqued & ridiculed on SM…

Early Aug 2016: Lankan traffic police organising Buddhist chanting at roadside, allegedly to ‘reduce road traffic accidents’ was merely reported in mainstream media… But this action was highly ridiculed on social media!

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No taboos!

Politicians’ cynical use of populism and religions’ outer trappings ridiculed in this popular Sinhala meme circulating on Facebook…

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Example 1: Mithyaa (=myths)

Myth-busting video show produced by young Lankan rationalists and disseminated via YouTube & Facebook Biweekly new episodes since 2014

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Mithyaa: Promoting rational thinking on a shoestring budget

Self-funded, low budget production, filmed with digital video camera, edited on laptop and disseminated on YouTube free of charge – and free of broadcast gatekeepers!

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Mithyaa exposes…

[translation of meme]

Origins of Gods

Modern Gods and Goddesses

Harnessing God Power

God-driven magic

Secrets of ‘Godmen’

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Role of myths in Lankan elections Taking on astrology-politics nexus

Mithyaa show released on 31 Dec 2014, a week ahead of decisive Jan 2015 Presidential Election called by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa 2 years ahead of schedule -- based on his astrologer’s advice (oops!)

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Mithyaa: Videos on YouTube, Discussions unfold on Facebook

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Example 2: Against Myths FB Page Let’s see the world with an open mind!

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Typical web ‘meme’ shared on Against Myths FB page…

Let’s observe Sinhala Tamil New Year without astrology and myth of ‘auspicious times’!

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Example 3: Bankoloth Tharka [‘Hollow Arguments’] FB page

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Tagore’s definition of True Freedom…

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Sinhala rendering of Bertrand Russell’s Cosmic Teapot analogy…

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Common in many rationally inclined SM content in LKA…

No Sacred Cows = all dogmas critiqued!

Questioning ALL religious teachings

Foreceful, often vituperative, reactions by ‘true believers’ of various faiths/dogmas

Practitioners of black magic sometimes claim theirs is ‘indigenous knowledge’ that ‘should not be probed or challenged’

SM discussions far more vibrant than in Lankan mainstream media today!

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How to insulate from vicious pushback on social media?

Rational voices are constantly under verbal attack by charlatans, zealots, conservatives & semi-feudal Lankan academics!

Cyber civility lacking

My own coping strategies:

Ignore trolls as much as possible

Mute the worst ones on Twitter

FB: personal account & public page

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Much admired in pro-science, pro-reason groups on LKA Social Media

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Beyond SM, I keep myth-busting in an oasis of mainstream media (Ravaya)

Nalaka Gunawardene’s weekly column in Ravaya independent broadsheet newspaper where he asks inconvenient questions and dispels myths and misconceptions

Column archive (with English summaries) since 2011:

https://nalakagunawardene.com/ravaya-column/

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My own meme contributions to enrich social media conversations

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Rationalist Dr Abraham T Kovoor’s famous quote in Sinhala…

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Yatha Rupa: Only show on Lankan TV promoting rational thinking

Thursdays 22:15 Rupavahini In live talk show, scientists engage peddlers of pseudo-science & superstition “We are willing to engage anyone in a rational exploration of topics in public interest. We don’t accept anything without due investigation.” - Dr Senarath Weragama, rationalist and regular guest

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Concluding thoughts… Mainstream media in slow decline (but

won’t go extinct for yrs): can’t ignore

State media (propaganda for ruling party) needs to become public service media: promote rational thinking

Meanwhile, SM offers quick, fleeting chance to counter myths, anti-science

Every rational voice counts, wherever it is expressed! Keep them coming…

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Wanted: Cyber Literacy for critical consumption of Social Media!

Translation: “Don’t believe anything just because it’s shared on Facebook!” - King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (last king of Lanka), 16 June 1802 in Kandy

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May millions of conversations unfold!

Email:

alien@nalaka.org

Twitter:

twitter.com/NalakaG

Ravaya column archive (Sinhala):

nalakagunawardene.com/ravaya-column/