Sisi: Any trial to fight social media will fail

CAIRO – 5 November 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi recommended forming a national research committee to set a strategy to deal with social media sites in the session titled “Social Media: Saving or enslaving users” on Nov. 5, the second day of the World Youth Forum.

“Social media outlets must be used positively and developed countries must deal with social media challenges in a way that does not affect the security and stability of other countries.”

Sisi stated that he belongs to an older generation, who lived a stage of their lives without television, stressing that internet is a sign of human development and that ways to increase its positive impacts and decrease its disadvantages should be discussed.

The president asserted that any trial to fight social media sites will not be successful.

“In 2010, I delivered a speech, saying that the development of social media will have a dangerous effect on Egypt and the Arab region in general and that’s what proved to be true later; the country was not ready to face its dangers,” Sisi said.

Sisi explained that “Rumors have always existed throughout the world but currently means of spreading rumors developed.”

The third day of the second edition of the World Youth Forum kicked off under the auspices of President Sisi.

The second annual edition of the WYF will tackle two main axes: peace and development. The forum brings together 5,000 youths represented by 60 delegations from across the world to explore key issues facing their generation, and determine their role in implementing the global development goals and in facing terrorism.

On Nov. 1 and 2, the forum witnessed pre-workshops related to the "agenda 2063: The Africa We Want" and "Empowering Persons with Disabilities: Towards a More Integrated World."

The opening of the World Youth Theater took place on Friday, November 2. The actual discussion sessions started on November 4, where participants discussed a number of issues, including differences among cultures and civilizations, the role of world leaders in building and sustaining peace, the role of soft power in countering ideological extremism and terrorism, and Day Zero: Water security in the wake of climate change.

On November 5, the sessions will tackle the role of entrepreneurs and start-ups in global economic growth, rebuilding societies and states after conflicts, narrowing the gender gap in the labor market and humanitarian assistance: A global responsibility in the face of challenges.

The forum's closing session and the announcement of the World Youth Forum 2018's recommendations will take place on Nov. 6.