When mainstream media does not consistently speak to the everyday realities people are living, it is only natural that alternative spaces emerge. Social media and citizen journalism then become the places where people talk, vent, question, and share what they are going through. This is not by choice for many, but by necessity.
A big part of the frustration we now see online comes from the feeling that mainstream media is more visible when it comes to sports and entertainment, but far quieter on social and economic issues that affect daily life. Youth unemployment, the rising cost of living, transport challenges, housing pressures, and access to affordable capital are realities for many households, yet they rarely receive sustained attention.
When these issues are not reflected in mainstream conversations, people look for other ways to be heard. Social media becomes a raw but honest mirror of what is happening on the ground. It may be emotional and sometimes messy, but it often carries truths that people feel are being ignored elsewhere. Citizen journalism steps in to fill that gap, especially when formal reporting feels distant or cautious.
This does not mean that everything shared online is helpful or accurate. But it does mean there is a deeper signal that should not be ignored. A healthy society needs strong, curious, and courageous media that listens, asks difficult questions, and keeps decision makers connected to real life experiences.
If mainstream media engaged more deeply with these realities, public frustration would be better channeled into informed dialogue and solutions, instead of spilling over almost entirely onto social media.
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