Beyond traditional media: The digital revolution reshaping Iraq – Shafaq News

Shafaq News

By Ali Hussein Feyli

A growing number of Iraqi teenagers and young adults are
building careers as content creators on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube,
Instagram, and TikTok, reflecting a broader shift in the country’s social and
media landscape.

Although official figures are unavailable, digital media
monitoring centers estimate that more than 32 million Iraqis, or about 70% of
the population, use social media, with teenagers and young people making up the
largest share. These platforms have become spaces for public expression and
showcasing real-life trends.

This society is moving at an astonishing speed toward
digital modernity, driven by the vision of a new generation that feels entitled
to break through traditional barriers and restrictions. They have turned the
streets and major shopping malls into gathering grounds just to meet a
well-known social media personality. Meanwhile, quite a few people watch this
enthusiasm and ask in amazement: What are these young people searching for? And
where did these names come from that nobody seems to know?

For years, Iraqi youth have been shaping a media world that
exists largely outside official institutions, traditional forums, and
television networks. In most cases, the older generation fails to digest this
massive shift, continuing to believe that trust and fame must still adhere to
the standards of tradition and classic media. They remain unaware that these
people, some barely eighteen years old, view human relationships and modern
role models through an entirely different lens.

For this generation, despite everything being said about the
prevalence of low-quality content, a wave of triviality, and poor language, a
certain blogger or young YouTuber creating videos right from their bedroom is a
thousand times more relatable, far more expressive, and vastly more trusted
than any traditional or official figure. These creators build no walls between
themselves and their audience; without any filter, and with total spontaneity
in their language, they voice their daily struggles, pains, and personal
connections. The secret to their staying power and popularity lies in their
candor and authenticity. When they read comments, they respond to them,
creating a creating a genuine sense of participation in shaping and co-creating
the content they deliver to their viewers and readers.

This is precisely where official institutions and major
local media outlets have fallen behind. Despite having greater resources,
funding, and technical capabilities, they have yet to match the level of
audience engagement achieved by digital creators, raising questions about their
future influence.

As the popularity of social media personalities continues to
grow, and the appeal and influence of this digital space expand, we must stop
denying the impact of these “unknown street stars.” Rather than asking
dismissive questions like: Who are they? or Does any of this even matter? We
must recognize the undeniable truth: these stars are entirely self-made.

This article was originally written in Arabic.