With its huge reach and influence, Facebook has become an integral part of Bangladeshi life, particularly among young people. As of early 2024, there were 52.90 million Facebook users in the country, accounting for 30.4% of the entire population and 68.4% of local internet users. This extensive use is most seen among the youth, notably Generation Z (Gen Z), who have embraced the platform and utilised it to create societal change. This is evidenced by the recent Gen Z Revolution, which deposed the previous government on August 5, 2024.
The accessibility of Facebook has transformed human interactions. "To me, Facebook has changed the formality of our communication and made it much more casual because we now don't have to wait for days to communicate; rather, it's instantaneous," says Rahadul Islam, an MSc Chemistry student at BUET. This transformation has broken down geographical barriers, promoting connections within and across borders. "There are many similar examples. Facebook has enabled the entire nation's population to communicate with one another. Even the website has helped people build cross-border relationships," Rahadul adds.
However, this digital closeness is not without disadvantages. The platform's design, which emphasises fast connections, may reduce the depth of relationships. Rahadul is concerned about this changing dynamic, stating, "There are both positive and negative impacts of these changes; however, losing the seriousness of interpersonal relationships is the biggest drawback to me."
Perhaps the most striking example of Facebook's influence was its role in the recent Gen Z Revolution. This youth-led uprising ended in Sheikh Hasina's historic ouster on August 5, 2024, following a 15-year rule.
Facebook served as an active networking medium for Gen Z.
"You can spread information or query faster than any other platforms, especially in Bangladesh," says Risanan Nid, a textile engineering student at BUTEX in her last academic year. The platform's group chats were important in organising large-scale demonstrations and protests.
Nid goes on: "People coordinated effectively for mass gathering; the oppressions happening by government forces in the protest gained more momentum for the protest, and thousands and thousands of more people of all ages joined the protest every day."
Even in the face of government internet bans, Facebook users showed perseverance. "In case of overcoming challenges like internet restrictions, people have shared FTP-based chat servers such as Warpchat, Jogajog, etc., on Facebook so that the protesters could stay connected even when the internet blackout starts again," Nid recalls. Trending hashtags boosted the movement's reach, attracting global attention and solidarity.
While Facebook's role in driving change is admirable, its influence on daily life raises concerns. Rahadul analyses this dichotomy: "Of course, we're getting overly dependent on Facebook. First of all, we cannot see any platform through a binary lens. There are many shady areas where it may appear both good and bad to some people."
During internet outages, Bangladeshi people's overdependence on Facebook was exposed. "If you go back to the days of internet shutdown, you'll see how restless the days were for some people who couldn't be online, especially missing Facebook," Rahadul observes, emphasising society's growing dependence on Facebook.
The platform's design promotes short, digestible content and reduces attention spans. Nid admits, "I realised now that I don't have the mental energy to sit through a 10-minute video. Concentrating on studies has proven difficult. I get distracted every now and again by scrolling through social media."
In the aftermath of the Gen Z revolution, Facebook became a breeding ground for misinformation. Nid shares, "Misinformation on Facebook has become a comical issue since August 5, with new rumors and memes spreading every night. An example is the misinformation about RAW infiltration in Bangladesh, which became frightening at night and turned out to be hilarious by the morning. Another example is the Gopalgonj incident, where people made memes about the 'All eyes on Gopalgonj' incident. I seriously panicked about what was going to happen to my relatives there. But in the end, nothing frightening happened, and the army was there only to deescalate the situation."
"Misinformations like these are cancerous, with different rumors appearing on different days and people forgetting them the next day. If this continues, people may not take serious situations seriously," Nid adds.
The problem of spreading misinformation is also complicated by Facebook's algorithm-driven echo chambers. Nid explains, "Facebook's algorithms create echo chambers, where users consume content on the same ideology on a daily basis, leading to a strong belief in that ideology. For example, when female students were criticised for not wearing a hijab while directing traffic in the absence of traffic police, a portion of the audience defended the free choice of wearing a hijab by the students. But both parties expressed their opinion in a safe space where no person with opposite beliefs will engage with them."
This led to a lack of constructive criticism and insights, with only keyboard wars between audiences with different ideologies on Facebook. This highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the nuances of different ideologies on social media platforms to promote inclusivity and understanding.
Beyond social implications, Facebook affects individual psyches, particularly among adolescents. Nid expresses concern about minors accessing adult-oriented content, saying, "What they fail to understand is that they are not liberated mentally or sexually yet."
The platform's display of controlled perfection, particularly from celebrities, can lead to an inferiority complex. "Unrealistic body standards set by celebrities create body dysmorphia. Social media doesn't show their struggles to obtain such a perfect physique. It looks so perfect that young people forget the reality. The comparison starts, and so the mental dissatisfaction," Nid concludes.
Facebook undoubtedly has the largest presence in Bangladesh. As of January 2024, its advertisements reached 68.4% of the local internet user base, showing its role in communication, activism, and personal well-being. It will be essential to embrace the platform's positive impacts, such as developing connections and establishing collective action, while minimising its disadvantages, such as misinformation and digital dependency.
Rahadul puts it well: "We can discuss these things all day, but one fact won't change, which is that Facebook has changed our communication for the good and for the bad."
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