Face of Truth: Digital Triviality… and the Dilemma of Values

Ibrahim Shiglawi

Sudan has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the use of social media platforms over the past few years, particularly in light of the war and the transformations it has imposed. With the declining role of some cultural and media institutions, a new generation of content creators and influencers has emerged, possessing tremendous power to influence public opinion and shape social awareness, while most of them operate without any professional, legal, or ethical framework regulating this activity.

What prompted me to write this article was the widespread controversy sparked by a Sudanese female activist after she published content carrying sexual implications that contradicted societal values and norms. The ensuing heated debates went beyond the individual incident and raised numerous questions regarding the nature of the digital content industry and its ethical boundaries. This incident brought to the forefront the importance of balancing the pursuit of popularity and financial gain on one hand, with social responsibility and cultural values on the other. It also opened the door to discussions about the necessity of establishing professional and regulatory standards to govern this growing field.

Although the digital space has provided significant opportunities for expression, creativity, and the dissemination of knowledge, it has also produced forms of content that have generated considerable controversy within Sudanese society. Many have viewed such content as a violation of social and cultural values, while some platforms have become arenas for vulgarity, sensationalism, the pursuit of instant fame, and financial gain at the expense of ethical responsibility.

The danger of this phenomenon lies in the fact that the digital platform economy is fundamentally built on attracting attention and achieving the highest levels of views and audience engagement. This drives some content creators to cross ethical and professional boundaries in pursuit of wider reach. Profit thus becomes the sole measure of success, while considerations related to culture, identity, and societal values gradually recede.

The paradox is that Sudan possesses a comprehensive system of professional councils that regulate various professions, ranging from medicine, engineering, and agriculture to law, education, accounting, music, and drama. These councils were not established to restrict professional practice, but rather to protect society, ensure quality performance, and reinforce professional ethics. Yet the digital content industry, despite its direct influence on millions of citizens, remains outside any clear regulatory framework.

Hence the importance of the discussions that have begun to emerge in some Arab countries regarding the establishment of professional frameworks or regulatory bodies for content creators and influencers. The issue is no longer solely related to freedom of publication and profit-making; it is also about society’s right to have standards that regulate the relationship between public influence and ethical responsibility, and between economic activity and the public interest.

This does not mean advocating censorship, restricting freedom of expression, or monopolizing one profession in favor of another. Rather, it means building an ethical professional model that distinguishes responsible creativity from digital chaos, and freedom of opinion from violations of societal values. Just as a doctor requires a license to practice medicine and an engineer is bound by professional regulations, those who possess the ability to influence people’s minds and behavior should not remain outside any system of legal, professional, and ethical accountability.

Accordingly, there is a growing need to establish a Sudanese professional council or authority for digital content creators, tasked with developing a code of ethics for professional practice, setting regulatory standards for the field, designing qualification and training programs, and coordinating with relevant authorities on matters related to digital advertising, consumer protection, intellectual property, and social responsibility. The objective is not to impose guardianship over the digital space or restrict freedom of expression, but rather to build a professional framework that balances freedom and responsibility, creativity and the public interest.

According to Face of Truth, the issue is not content creation itself, as it has become part of the modern economic and social reality. Rather, the issue concerns how it is managed and directed. Content creators are required to balance their right to earn a living with their duty toward society. The state is required to establish professional and legal frameworks that regulate this sector and protect public taste. The public is required not to reward content that relies on sensationalism at the expense of values. Critics, too, are called upon to provide constructive criticism that contributes to reform. In a country rising from the effects of war and searching for paths to recovery, the digital space must become a partner in building awareness and reinforcing values, rather than merely a source of views and profits.

Wishing you continued health and well-being.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Email: Shglawi55@gmail.com