Opinions & Interviews

No topic off-limits: Gomel residents ask information minister about bloggers, social media and more

GOMEL, 30 July (BelTA) - Information Minister Dmitry Zhuk fielded about 20 questions from Gomel residents as part of the national information and educational project Pulse of the Country: Facts, Trends, Meanings in Gomel, BelTA has learned

More than 500 residents of the region gathered for the meeting with the minister at the Gomel community and cultural center. The audience in the hall was extremely diverse: from entrepreneurs and young people to mothers on maternity leave and retirees.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dmitry Zhuk proposed looking at the events of the last 100 years, which everyone knows from the school history curriculum, from a special perspective – the legacy that each generation has received. He pointed to the cyclical nature of history and the consequences of wars, revolutions, and other events. “We have a unique chance to pass on a decent standard of living and well-being to the next generation, so that it can develop rather than start from scratch. From all the lessons of history, we must draw one simple conclusion: we cannot allow the common achievements to be reset to zero. Everything we have today, we have achieved together - all Belarusians under the leadership of the head of state,” Dmitry Zhuk emphasized.

The format of the meeting was an open dialogue. The minister presented souvenirs to the authors of the most interesting and pressing questions.

Gomel resident Maria Romanovich works in the field of education. Her question concerned the appropriateness of teachers being on TikTok and the content created by educators. “At our school, it was the head teacher who initiated the use of this network to be closer to the youth. The staff supported the ideas and helped with filming videos. The content was mostly entertainment-oriented, and this raised some questions and debates. Sometimes parents would say that such videos discredit the teaching profession. This question was also addressed to the information minister. I fully agree with his response. Of course, in all things at all times, one must observe the boundaries of what is permissible. I think this applies not only to teachers but to all Belarusians. Everyone should understand this,” she said. She noted that maintaining social media helps to stay on the same wavelength as the younger generation, reveals teachers from a different perspective, and strengthens communication and understanding.

“The meeting was very interesting and delivered with humor. Even the most complex questions were explained in a completely accessible way. I was especially pleased with the openness regarding the topics raised: from yard improvements to internet trends,” Maria Romanovich said.

One of the questions concerned the place and significance of citizen reporters – bloggers – in the media agenda. Residents were interested in whether bloggers have become colleagues or competitors to professional journalists, since they have the same devices and equipment in their hands. “The main difference is that professionals control the device in their hands and verify all facts and figures, whereas in the case of bloggers, this is not always the case. Because they often follow trends and seek hype. But in general, both have their place in life,” Dmitry Zhuk emphasized.