Amman, Oct. 9 (Petra)– Government Communication Minister and
Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said Friday that young people
have become key partners in shaping the digital space, producing
content and influencing public discourse, placing a significant
social responsibility on them to verify information and news before
sharing or engaging with it.

Speaking at the opening of the “Media and Youth Forum,” held as part
of the “Future of Media and Communication” conference organized by
the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ), Momani said
young people are no longer merely consumers of news and information,
but have become active participants in creating digital content and
shaping the online environment.

He explained that this role entails a major responsibility, beginning
with verifying the accuracy and sources of information and making
informed decisions about sharing it, particularly as misinformation
can harm society, national and economic security, and social peace.

Momani stressed that young people’s responsibility extends beyond
refraining from spreading misleading information to raising public
awareness of its dangers and promoting a culture of fact-checking and
verification across digital platforms.

He also highlighted the growing importance of “digital citizenship,”
which involves engaging with information and digital content in an
informed and responsible manner. Given that young people make up the
largest share of users engaging in the digital space, he said, they
have a pivotal role to play in promoting positive online practices.

Momani expressed pride in the awareness demonstrated by Jordanian
youth, their responsible online engagement and their ability to use
digital platforms to serve their communities and country by verifying
information and handling it responsibly.

He noted that Jordan has made significant progress in media and
information literacy through efforts to strengthen society’s ability
to navigate the vast flow of fake and misleading news. Higher levels
of awareness and education, he added, enhance communities’ ability to
benefit from digital openness and channel it toward development and
progress.

While the digital space offers extensive opportunities for knowledge,
communication and advancement across various fields, Momani said, it
also presents challenges and negative practices that require
collective efforts to address, particularly by young people, who are
among its most active users.

He affirmed that official institutions continue to work to strengthen
young people’s capacity for responsible digital engagement,
expressing confidence in Jordanian youth’s awareness, educational
achievements and ability to respond positively to rapid digital
developments.

Momani also voiced pride in Jordanian media professionals holding
senior positions at media institutions abroad, citing the
distinguished presence of Jordanian talent and the praise received by
national expertise during his recent participation in a media
conference in Dubai.

He commended the CDFJ and the organizers of the forum, highlighting
the importance of its sessions and discussions, particularly those
addressing young people’s role in shaping the future of media and
strengthening their participation in the digital space.

For his part, CDFJ Director Nidal Mansour discussed changes in how
different generations think about and engage with media messages, as
well as the role of algorithms and modern technology in transforming
communication methods and media consumption patterns.

Mansour emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise across
generations and combining the accumulated experience of media
professionals with young people’s capabilities and skills in using
modern media tools, particularly artificial intelligence
technologies.

He warned of the rapid spread of misinformation across digital
platforms, noting that so-called “rage bait” content attracts
widespread engagement, particularly among young people. This, he
said, underscores the need to strengthen media literacy among
journalists, youth and content creators and promote greater awareness
and responsibility in handling information.

The Media and Youth Forum is being held as part of the Future of
Media and Communication conference, organized by the CDFJ with the
participation of journalists, experts, content creators and young
people to discuss the key transformations and challenges facing the
media sector amid rapid technological advances.

The forum features a series of panel discussions addressing the
current state and future of youth in digital media, changing patterns
of digital platform use, Jordanian experiences in content creation
and social influence, and the future skills required by journalists
and young content creators.

//Petra// MF