The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan held a two-day workshop on December 2-3, 2024 on "The Role of Social Media Outlets and Artificial Intelligence in Promoting Dialogue and Harmony" for students enrolled in ten Jordanian universities at Karam Imseeh Hall in Tla' Al-'Ali, northwestern Amman.

At the outset of the workshop, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rifa't Bader welcomed the university students enrolled in ten Jordanian universities, stating that the workshop aims at enabling the participants in the workshop to use social media networks and artificial intelligence in enhancing dialogue, tolerance, as well as in establishing peaceful digital and genuine societies. He said that our noble Jordanian society is based on ethnic and religious pluralism, yet this does not prevent us from being one extended family under the Hashemite leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and his visions of reform in the political, economic, and administrative fields.

Fr. Bader added, "Our society has also spread several initiatives relevant to religious harmony in the world, but we need to educate the youth of today, who are the hope of tomorrow and the future of the country, on the ethical and moral use of social media. For hate speech, cyber bullying, misconceptions and the dissemination of rumors are all present on social media, yet they do not suit 'the country of holiness, the country of baptism, the country of welcoming refugees, and the country of the Hashemite custodianship'.”

During the workshop sessions, which is the 10th held by the CCSM this year, Tunisian trainer Shahrazad Ibn Hamida presented the three workshop sessions, bearing in mind that she is a lawyer, a university professor specializing in law, as well as an expert in peace-building and conflict management. She currently works as a consultant in the field of effecting justice at the Arab Institute for Human Rights.

The first session addressed the role of social media in its capacity as a tool designed to enhance dialogue and harmony. The second session dealt with the role of artificial intelligence in promoting peace, while the third session showed how youth can become ambassadors of peace through social media.

At the end of the workshop, Fr. Bader and trainer Shahrazad presented certificates to the attending university students enrolled in the University of Jordan, Petra University, Al al-Bayt University, Tafila Technical University, Ahliyya Amman University, the Science and Technology University, the American University of Madaba, the German Jordanian University, the Hashemite University, and Yarmouk University.