SONYO’s Contribution to Dilla Borama Road

In Expensive Medium for the Youth To Reflect On the Issues that Concerns their lives!

By Adnan A. Hassan, SONYO Programs Coordinator

Five years ago, the use of social networking sites like the Facebook and Twitter were uncommon among the youth of Somaliland. Now, it is rare to see a young man who is sitting an internet café whom the interface of the computer he or she is using shows up other than the blue color of the Face book page. One student from Hargeisa University believes that it’s becoming a taboo for someone especially a youngster not to have a Face book account. He argues that a non-Face book user is an outdated, non-social and old-fashioned type of individual who is completely blind of the modern world. In a nutshell, the above statements are clear testament on how the use of social networking sites is almost a necessity among this young generation in Somaliland.

The fact is, before the unprecedented mass Face bookmania, the reality was that a youngster would go into an internet café and open a web browser for the aims of either checking an email —If he or she is good at e-communication; or visit a news website—If he or she is among the few who love to be updated on events in and around his or her locality; or peek on the daily sports— If he is the type of youngsters who are addicted to sports). All these net activities would consume less than an hour of the user’s time. However, the situation is entirely different now. You will meet someone (mostly youngsters) spending hours navigating through the social networking sites. However, coming to the gist of the article, the question is what kind of opportunity and space the youth received from these new medium of communication? Firstly, the emergence of social networking sites particularly the Facebook has provided a free-offcharge communication medium where by youngsters can easily be able to connect to friends and families when ever and where ever they are in the world as long as they have a computer and acquire its basic know-how skill. And as a result of that, the social networking connected many youngsters with the same needs who are scattered around the world.

Furthermore, these sites facilitated for the youngsters to easily mobilize one another. A noteworthy event was the preparation and mobilization activities initiated by the Face book users of which they asked every Somalilander of Facebook user to put the country’s flag in their profiles resulting the page turns into green and red and bringing the attention not only the Somalilanders but also the wider global community to wonder what was going on; then making possible to hold the biggest and most well-organized national 18 May event ever. has provided the youngsters a platform to discuss and analyze the daily hot issues that happen in the country in a free and a critical way. Prior that,, the youth didn’t analyze the daily hot issues that happen in the country in a free and a critical way. Prior that,, the youth didn’t that,, the youth didn’t have a space like this of which they are able to reflect and give their opinions on the things that occur in and around their vicinities that affects their lives. Thanks to the recent Arab revolution which inspired the youth and showed them that they are a great power to reckon with when there is a need of social changes by just posting a small effectual statements on a these social networking pages.

Another important plus-point for the youth is that these social networking sites became an inexpensive channel they can raise charity funds aimed helping for the needy and the poor people. Notably, the members of Facebook group by the name of Somaliland First succeeded to collect money through the page and feed for the poor people in the State House during Ramadan who couldn’t afford to break their fast.

In conclusion the social networking sites provided the youngster a golden opportunities other media out lets did not provide if its a free communication, exchange of information, mobilization, being updated on both world and local events, connecting to the global world and many more! However, the youth must recognize this opportunity and make sure to utilize it the best possible way yet, the youth should keep in mind the adverse negative influences that can be obtained from being obsessed with the use of these sites.