Youth problem — there is no denying the fact that this term is commonly used in all the countries of the world. This problem is multi-dimensional. Hence, it is absurd to limit it to one particular area. If we do so, it would mean we are not serious about solving it, rather it would only aggravate.
In Saudi Arabia, we also have this problem, which is variable and diversified. Our government recognizes this problem and is working hard to resolve it or at least to mitigate it and make it solvable. But there remains a major factor in the process of treatment; the media that is being presented as a commodity ready to be sold and planted in the minds of the youths.
We are talking about the media in general, because even the local media becomes harmful and destructive when it fails to address the problem wisely. What harms any society most is ignorance, either by denying the existence of the problem or failing to contribute to its solution.
As for the Saudi youth, the media has linked their problems directly to the nature of the Saudi society by claiming that liberalization of this society is the only solution that can make the youth more productive. Here lies the absurdity because this suggestion gives no models to be followed. If we take the most liberal societies in the world, we can see that they admit that the youth problem is a dilemma and that the uncontrolled permissiveness is the main reason for making their youths go astray. How then we offer openness as the only solution?
Once again, I don’t deny that there is a problem with our young Saudi people, but in order to treat it, we must first define the nature of this problem. In fact, our government has come up with many solutions and initiatives, in addition to direct and indirect support, including Saudization of the employment system. The HR system also contributes to the employment of these young people. So, why the Saudi youths remain unproductive? Here comes the role of the powerful media.
The media doesn’t care to see that there are productive young Saudis who do not have the common youth problems. Unfortunately, many of those working in the media and tackling the Saudi affairs are non-Saudis. For example, in an FM radio station and in the morning rush hours, a Lebanese woman announcer read two news items, one of them in hurry and the other with full concentration. The first news item was about a physically disabled Saudi young male patient staying in hospital who said via Twitter that no one visits him, and he wished that somebody visited him like other patients. Saudi youths and other citizens responded positively. They thronged the hospital in large numbers that forced the hospital officials to call police to intervene to regulate traffic and entry of visitors to the hospital. Things didn’t end right here but the visitors gave donation to help send this young man abroad for treatment.
This is the sort of news about the Saudi youth that doesn’t attract attention of the media. It was read in a hurry, and the announcer didn’t contact any official or the young patient. The other news was about the favorite pastime of the Saudi youth. Majority of the respondents to the survey said that they like “to sleep.” Ultimately, any listener hearing this would come to the conclusion that the Saudi youths are lazy. The debate continued without, at least, drawing attention of the listeners that those participating in the opinion poll were mainly “the sleepers” because the productive citizens would not in the first place take part in such surveys.
This is an example of the ignorant media. In Saudi Arabia, we have productive youth, and we have as well lazy young men. To concentrate on the latter is far from being fair and we could call it a conspiracy. Why then the media doesn’t talk about a young Saudi man who saves a family from drowning and talk instead about another Saudi young man who spends one million riyals on a dancer?
This is because the non-Saudi announcer doesn’t understand norms and traditions of this society, and views this as anti-human, while it is very normal in a tribal generous society to give gifts to others.
Yes, our youths are facing problems. It is the leisure time and their failure to find things to keep them busy. The question is: Are there solutions to tackle this problem? Of course, there are many, but when the media gives another attractive choice then all serious initiatives are doomed. As such, before initiating any solution, we should solve the problem of the media first.
