State Minister Tennakoon calls for collective effort to address
online radicalization of youth
December 08, 2023
Online youth radicalization in the South Asian region is a complex challenge that demands urgent attention and through fostering education, collaboration, socio-economic development and leveraging technology responsibly, we can empower our youth to resist extremist narratives and pave the way for a more peaceful and harmonious future in the region.
State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon made these remarks while gracing as the Chief Guest of a Youth De-Radicalization Workshop organized by Search for Common Ground with Meta (Facebook), Skype, Twitter and Messenger, at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, yesterday (07 December).
Delving deep into the subject, the State Minister noted “Youth radicalization doesn't occur in a vacuum. It's often born out of a complex interplay of socio-economic disparities, political instability, marginalization and a lack of education or opportunities and addressing radicalization requires a multifaceted approach - one that goes beyond mere security measures”.
The social media has evolved as social nations and exerts enormous influence around the world. Today due to the online platforms, there is only a fine line between freedom of expression and social security and communication service providers have a great responsibility in appropriate use of safety tools and measures, he further said.
Representatives of Tech Industry and civil society organizations were present at the occasion.
