Paris, November 02 (QNA) - QatarDebate examined the transformative yet paradoxical role of digital platforms in today's global conflicts during a landmark panel discussion titled "Mediator or Firestarter? The Dual Role of Digital Media in Conflict Resolution" at the eighth Paris Peace Forum.

Held at the Musee de l'Homme and Musee de la Marine, the session brought together global experts to explore how digital media, while vital for peacebuilding, can also fuel division and polarization.

Moderated by QatarDebate's Chief Envoy Ahmad Al Nuaimi, the panel addressed the complexities of digital media's dual nature and its essential contribution to global conflict resolution efforts.

"Digital media is both a powerful tool for peace and a battleground for manipulation," Al Nuaimi added.

On one hand, platforms such as social media and digital news outlets have the potential to expose hidden truths and amplify marginalized voices, making the invisible visible.

On the other hand, these platforms are often exploited to spread misinformation, reinforce biases, and suppress free speech.

"The challenge is ensuring that it serves as a force for resolution rather than division," argued Al Nuaimi, a seasoned policy strategist with extensive experience in international relations.

Drawing on his experience representing Qatar at the UN General Assembly, the ECOSOC Youth Forum, and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Al Nuaimi framed the conversation around the critical importance of global cooperation to safeguard truth and accountability online.

For her part, former Berlin State Secretary for Civic and International Affairs Sawsan Chebli emphasized that digital media has become one of the most powerful tools for shaping narratives, mobilizing communities, and driving change.

"For many around the world, digital platforms are not just channels of communication; they are lifelines that keep human stories alive when global attention fades," she said.

Yet, Chebli cautioned, there is another side to the coin. "Take Gaza, for instance. On one hand, social media serves as an existential lifeline and a force that has ignited a global awakening and mobilized millions.

On the other, we are witnessing how voices are silenced and content suppressed through deranking and shadowbanning."

In a nutshell, social media holds the promise of being a space for dialogue and reconciliation but it also determines whose pain is amplified and whose is forgotten, Chebli concludes.

The panel was part of the broader Paris Peace Forum, which focused on "New Coalitions for Peace, People, and the Planet" in 2025.

The Forum, now in its 10th year, highlighted the urgency of multilateral collaboration on global challenges such as climate action and international peacebuilding.

It also marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable global action.

"Through events like today's panel, QatarDebate amplifies youth voices and offers tomorrow's leaders the opportunity to engage global experts to find solutions to the most pressing challenges," said Programs Director at QatarDebate Abdulrahman Al Subaie. (QNA)