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

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.

The information minister also noted that bloggers often rely on emotions. “The most dangerous enemy for a person is their own decision made under the influence of emotions. Write the script for each of your days yourself. Double-check all information. This is especially important in the age of deepfakes,” the minister advised the audience.

A resident of Gomel, Diana Miladovskaya, asked about the current state of Belarusian cinema and the direction in which it will develop.

“Real-life human stories, told in an interesting and talented way, will always be in demand,” Dmitry Zhuk believes. “Cinema should be engaging, it should be liked, that is its most important criterion. We need to revive the cinematic tradition that existed in the Soviet Union. We remember those wonderful films - from The Adventures of Buratino to The Town of Masters - they were amazing. We need to find those themes, those stories that touch our souls and carry our Belarusian code.”

The minister recalled that the head of state set a task for both Belarusian television channels and the film studio to produce TV series. “These are series about our lives - for young people, for home viewing. Do you know what the most interesting thing in cinema can be? Human stories. We love watching and listening to stories about people - the key is to present them in an interesting and talented way. And genres can vary. Yes, this is a complex issue, because cinema is a form of creativity that requires a team effort. The actors’ performances, the screenwriters, the directors, the cinematography - it all has to come together,” he emphasized.

“We would like to see our cinema come to life. I hope that this year we will see the first Belarusian series produced by our television channels. Let me share a small secret: the work is already nearing its final phase,” Dmitry Zhuk said.

Svetlana Zarechnik from Gomel shared her concerns about negative content in social networks and messengers that is openly accessible to teenagers. “A child should not encounter such material at their age. In my opinion, we need to find ways and methods to control and limit this content,” the woman expressed.

An elderly Gomel resident, Tatiana Vashkevich, also asked a question about content, but in her case it concerned programs or television channels specifically for retirees. “We would love to watch something for the soul, with fewer commercials. People of retirement age also want to grow and stay informed,” she said.

Dmitry Zhuk emphasized that modern television should be balanced, so it should not target a single category of viewers but rather reflect a cross-section of contemporary society as a whole.

The information minister also met with the staff of Gomel Chemical Plant, with the dialogue also covering the oblast’s mass media.