Social Media as a Tool of Communication in Bangladesh: Pattern, Growth and Challenges

Abstract

The paper discussed the pattern, growth and challenges of social media platforms in Bangladesh. It has found that number of social media users in Bangladesh are increasing continuously. The rapid development of Bangladeshi media is remarkable. Facebook and YouTube are the leading social media platforms. Facebook is more popular among the young generation, aged between 18-24 years.  Nearly 49.3% of users have fallen in this age category. Male are ahead as Facebook users then females. Universities in Bangladesh are using social media platforms for communication with staff, prospective students, alumni, current students, faculty and the community. The community’s current affairs news mostly comes from Facebook. The benefits of changing behaviour through social media use are complex and multifaceted. Opportunities in digital platform marketing are also growing and have become important during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most significant consequences of the proliferation of social media is the weakening of social and interpersonal relationships. Bangladesh faces the challenge of transitioning to the digital realm. Low internet penetration has led to less social media use by the population. While the number of social media users is expected to increase with the improvement of internet infrastructure. The incidences of spread of misinformation and fake news creates confusion, misunderstanding and fear among the people. It is a serious issue relating to religion, health and politics. It has severe consequences on society. Therefore, government will introduce new policies for mitigating such challenges and will bring more transparency in uses of social media in the country.