لم تعد منصات التواصل الاجتماعي مجرد نوافذ نطلُّ منها على العالم، بل تحولت إلى ساحات كبرى يتقاطع فيها الوجود، ويتشكل فيها الرأي، وتُصنع فيها الثقافة.
وفي قلب هذه الساحات الافتراضية مترامية الأطراف، يقف المستخدم السعودي، شاهداً وفاعلاً، متأثراً ومؤثراً، في معادلة معقدة من التفاعل تُجسِّد حيرةَ العصر: أين يبدأ التأثر، وأين ينتهي؟
لطالما كانت الثقافات تتأثر وتؤثر عبر الحدود، لكن سرعة وكثافة هذا التبادل في عصر السوشيال ميديا تُعدّ ظاهرة غير مسبوقة، بدأ المستخدم السعودي، كغيره، «متلقياً» في المراحل الأولى، وتدفقت عليه أنماط حياة، وقيم جمالية، وخطابات فكرية، واتجاهات موضة، وأشكال ترفيه من كل حدب وصوب.
كان التأثر سريعاً، أحياناً سطحياً وأحياناً عميقاً يلامس البنى الثقافية والاجتماعية.
شهدنا تقليداً للهجات، وتبنياً لسلوكيات مستوردة، واستهلاكاً غير مسبوق لمنتجات روجت لها المنصات بقوة، وربما تأثراً بفردانية مفرطة تتعارض مع نسيج المجتمع الجماعي. كانت المخاوف مشروعة: هل ستذوب الهوية في هذا الطوفان الرقمي؟ هل سيصبح الشباب السعودي مجرد صدى لصوت الآخر؟
لكن النظرة السلبية التي ترى المستخدم السعودي مجرد «مُتأثِر» سلبي لم تدم طويلاً. برزت ظاهرة «المؤثر السعودي» بقوة، لتعيد رسم المعادلة.
لم يعد الأمر مجرد استهلاك، بل إنتاج، لم يعد تقليداً أعمى، بل تمثيلاً واعياً وخلقاً مبتكراً، وتسويقاً ذكيّاً.
تحول السعوديون من «ركَّاب الموجة إلى صُنَّاعها».
استطاع رواد الأعمال والمتاجر الصغيرة الوصول إلى جمهور غير مسبوق، محلياً وعالمياً، وتحولت المنصات إلى أسواق افتراضية نابضة، وولدت مهن جديدة تماماً (كإدارة المحتوى والتسويق الرقمي) ووفرت فرصاً اقتصادية واسعة.
برز محتوى يعكس الثراء الثقافي السعودي: من عادات الضيافة، إلى الأهازيج الشعبية، إلى فنون الطهي المحلية، إلى لهجات المناطق المتنوعة. أصبح السوشيال ميديا وسيلة قوية للحفاظ على التراث وتسويقه بطرق عصرية جذابة.
كما لعب المؤثرون دوراً في تعزيز قيم اجتماعية إيجابية كالتسامح والتطوع والاهتمام بالصحة النفسية والجسدية، كذلك التوعية البيئية، مستخدمين أساليبَ أكثرَ قرباً من الشباب من الخطاب التقليدي.
تحولت المنصات إلى منابر لدعم رؤية الوطن 2030، والترويج للإنجازات التنموية الضخمة، والدفاع عن صورة المملكة أمام أي هجمات تشويه ممنهجة، وأصبح صوت السعودي مسموعاً في الدفاع عن قضاياه الوطنية بفخر ووطنية.
أثبتت المبادرات السعودية الخيرية والإغاثية التي تنطلق وتنتشر عبر السوشيال ميديا (مثل حملات التبرع للقضايا الإنسانية العالمية) قدرة التأثير السعودي على تجاوز الحدود الجغرافية والثقافية، حاملةً رسالة الخير والعطاء المتأصلة في المجتمع.
لكن هذا التأثير الباهر لا يعني غياب التحديات المرتبطة بالتأثر:
- الاستهلاكية المفرطة: لا يزال الترويج للمنتجات الاستهلاكية والرفاهية المبالغ فيها يشكل ضغطاً على شرائح كبيرة، خاصة الشباب.
- تشويه القيم والتقليد الأعمى: استمرار تدفق محتوى قد يتعارض مع الثوابت الدينية والاجتماعية، أو يشجع على سلوكيات خطيرة أو غير أخلاقية تحت شعار «الحرية الشخصية».
- الإدمان الرقمي وتأثير الصحة النفسية: مقارنة الحياة الواقعية بالحياة «الافتراضية» على المنصات، والتنمر الإلكتروني، وإهدار الوقت، كلها آثار سلبية تمس الجميع، بمن فيهم السعوديون.
- تحدي المحتوى الهادف: في خِضَمّ كمّ المحتوى الهائل، يظل الكفاح مستمراً لرفع جودة المحتوى وتشجيع الإنتاج الفكري والثقافي والفني العميق الذي يثري ولا يلهي فقط.
لم يعد السؤال: هل السعوديون متأثرون أم مؤثرون في السوشيال ميديا؟ السؤال الأجدى هو: كيف نُحسِّن من قدرتنا على التأثر الإيجابي، ونعزز تأثيرنا الهادف؟
المستخدم السعودي أثبت، بلا شك، أنه ليس مجرد رقم في إحصائيات الاستهلاك، بل هو «فاعل رئيسي» في تشكيل المشهد الرقمي.
لقد تحول من متلقٍ سلبي إلى مبدع، ومن مستهلكٍ إلى منتج، ومن متابعٍ إلى قائد رأي.
إن تحديات التأثر السلبي قائمة، لكنها لا تُقلل من حجم الإنجاز في مجال التأثير الإيجابي والوطني والثقافي و الاقتصادي.
مستقبل التأثير السعودي في السوشيال ميديا مرهونٌ باستمرار هذا التحول النوعي: من صناعة المحتوى إلى صناعة «المحتوى الهادف»، ومن جذب المتابعين إلى «إلهام المجتمعات»، ومن المشاركة في الساحة الرقمية إلى «قيادة الحوار العالمي» بثقة وهوية راسخة، مستلهمين قيمنا الأصيلة، ومتوائمين مع طموحات وطننا المتجددة.
في هذا التوازن بين الأصالة والمعاصرة، بين الانفتاح والثبات، يكمن سر نجاح السعودي في أن يكون صانعاً للأمواج، لا مجرد ركَّابٍ للتِّيار.
عبد اللطيف آل الشيخ
السعوديون من ركَّاب الموجة إلى صُنَّاعها
8 يونيو 2025 - 00:00
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آخر تحديث 8 يونيو 2025 - 00:02
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
Social media platforms are no longer just windows through which we gaze at the world; they have transformed into vast arenas where existence intersects, opinions are formed, and culture is created.
At the heart of these sprawling virtual spaces stands the Saudi user, a witness and an active participant, influenced and influential, in a complex equation of interaction that embodies the confusion of the age: where does influence begin, and where does it end?
Cultures have always influenced and been influenced across borders, but the speed and intensity of this exchange in the age of social media is an unprecedented phenomenon. The Saudi user, like others, began as a "receiver" in the early stages, and was inundated with lifestyles, aesthetic values, intellectual discourses, fashion trends, and forms of entertainment from all directions.
The influence was rapid, sometimes superficial and sometimes deep, touching upon cultural and social structures.
We witnessed the imitation of dialects, the adoption of imported behaviors, and an unprecedented consumption of products heavily promoted by platforms, perhaps influenced by an excessive individualism that contradicts the fabric of collective society. The concerns were legitimate: would identity dissolve in this digital flood? Would Saudi youth become mere echoes of others' voices?
However, the negative perception that viewed the Saudi user merely as a passive "influenced" individual did not last long. The phenomenon of the "Saudi influencer" emerged strongly, reshaping the equation.
It was no longer just about consumption, but production; it was no longer blind imitation, but conscious representation and innovative creation, and smart marketing.
Saudis transformed from "wave riders to wave makers."
Entrepreneurs and small businesses managed to reach an unprecedented audience, both locally and globally, and platforms turned into vibrant virtual markets, giving rise to entirely new professions (such as content management and digital marketing) and providing vast economic opportunities.
Content emerged that reflects the rich Saudi culture: from hospitality customs to folk songs, local culinary arts, and diverse regional dialects. Social media became a powerful means to preserve and market heritage in attractive modern ways.
Influencers also played a role in promoting positive social values such as tolerance, volunteering, and concern for mental and physical health, as well as environmental awareness, using methods that resonate more closely with youth than traditional discourse.
Platforms became platforms to support the Vision 2030 of the nation, promote massive developmental achievements, and defend the image of the Kingdom against any systematic smear campaigns. The Saudi voice became heard in defending its national issues with pride and patriotism.
Saudi charitable and relief initiatives that spread through social media (such as donation campaigns for global humanitarian causes) demonstrated the Saudi ability to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, carrying a message of goodness and giving rooted in society.
However, this remarkable influence does not mean the absence of challenges related to being influenced:
- Excessive consumerism: The promotion of consumer products and exaggerated luxury still exerts pressure on large segments, especially youth.
- Distortion of values and blind imitation: The continued flow of content that may contradict religious and social constants, or encourages dangerous or unethical behaviors under the banner of "personal freedom."
- Digital addiction and mental health impact: Comparing real life with "virtual" life on platforms, cyberbullying, and time-wasting are all negative effects that affect everyone, including Saudis.
- The challenge of purposeful content: Amidst the massive amount of content, the struggle continues to raise the quality of content and encourage deep intellectual, cultural, and artistic production that enriches rather than distracts.
The question is no longer: Are Saudis influenced or influencers on social media? The more pertinent question is: How do we improve our capacity for positive influence and enhance our purposeful impact?
The Saudi user has undoubtedly proven to be more than just a number in consumption statistics; they are a "key player" in shaping the digital landscape.
They have transformed from passive receivers to creators, from consumers to producers, and from followers to opinion leaders.
While the challenges of negative influence persist, they do not diminish the magnitude of achievements in the realm of positive, national, cultural, and economic influence.
The future of Saudi influence on social media hinges on the continuation of this qualitative transformation: from content creation to creating "purposeful content," from attracting followers to "inspiring communities," and from participating in the digital arena to "leading global dialogue" with confidence and a strong identity, drawing inspiration from our authentic values and aligning with the renewed aspirations of our nation.
In this balance between authenticity and modernity, between openness and steadfastness, lies the secret to the success of Saudis in being wave makers, not just riders of the current.
At the heart of these sprawling virtual spaces stands the Saudi user, a witness and an active participant, influenced and influential, in a complex equation of interaction that embodies the confusion of the age: where does influence begin, and where does it end?
Cultures have always influenced and been influenced across borders, but the speed and intensity of this exchange in the age of social media is an unprecedented phenomenon. The Saudi user, like others, began as a "receiver" in the early stages, and was inundated with lifestyles, aesthetic values, intellectual discourses, fashion trends, and forms of entertainment from all directions.
The influence was rapid, sometimes superficial and sometimes deep, touching upon cultural and social structures.
We witnessed the imitation of dialects, the adoption of imported behaviors, and an unprecedented consumption of products heavily promoted by platforms, perhaps influenced by an excessive individualism that contradicts the fabric of collective society. The concerns were legitimate: would identity dissolve in this digital flood? Would Saudi youth become mere echoes of others' voices?
However, the negative perception that viewed the Saudi user merely as a passive "influenced" individual did not last long. The phenomenon of the "Saudi influencer" emerged strongly, reshaping the equation.
It was no longer just about consumption, but production; it was no longer blind imitation, but conscious representation and innovative creation, and smart marketing.
Saudis transformed from "wave riders to wave makers."
Entrepreneurs and small businesses managed to reach an unprecedented audience, both locally and globally, and platforms turned into vibrant virtual markets, giving rise to entirely new professions (such as content management and digital marketing) and providing vast economic opportunities.
Content emerged that reflects the rich Saudi culture: from hospitality customs to folk songs, local culinary arts, and diverse regional dialects. Social media became a powerful means to preserve and market heritage in attractive modern ways.
Influencers also played a role in promoting positive social values such as tolerance, volunteering, and concern for mental and physical health, as well as environmental awareness, using methods that resonate more closely with youth than traditional discourse.
Platforms became platforms to support the Vision 2030 of the nation, promote massive developmental achievements, and defend the image of the Kingdom against any systematic smear campaigns. The Saudi voice became heard in defending its national issues with pride and patriotism.
Saudi charitable and relief initiatives that spread through social media (such as donation campaigns for global humanitarian causes) demonstrated the Saudi ability to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, carrying a message of goodness and giving rooted in society.
However, this remarkable influence does not mean the absence of challenges related to being influenced:
- Excessive consumerism: The promotion of consumer products and exaggerated luxury still exerts pressure on large segments, especially youth.
- Distortion of values and blind imitation: The continued flow of content that may contradict religious and social constants, or encourages dangerous or unethical behaviors under the banner of "personal freedom."
- Digital addiction and mental health impact: Comparing real life with "virtual" life on platforms, cyberbullying, and time-wasting are all negative effects that affect everyone, including Saudis.
- The challenge of purposeful content: Amidst the massive amount of content, the struggle continues to raise the quality of content and encourage deep intellectual, cultural, and artistic production that enriches rather than distracts.
The question is no longer: Are Saudis influenced or influencers on social media? The more pertinent question is: How do we improve our capacity for positive influence and enhance our purposeful impact?
The Saudi user has undoubtedly proven to be more than just a number in consumption statistics; they are a "key player" in shaping the digital landscape.
They have transformed from passive receivers to creators, from consumers to producers, and from followers to opinion leaders.
While the challenges of negative influence persist, they do not diminish the magnitude of achievements in the realm of positive, national, cultural, and economic influence.
The future of Saudi influence on social media hinges on the continuation of this qualitative transformation: from content creation to creating "purposeful content," from attracting followers to "inspiring communities," and from participating in the digital arena to "leading global dialogue" with confidence and a strong identity, drawing inspiration from our authentic values and aligning with the renewed aspirations of our nation.
In this balance between authenticity and modernity, between openness and steadfastness, lies the secret to the success of Saudis in being wave makers, not just riders of the current.


