Saudis weigh social media use in Ramadan

Just before Maghreb prayers, many Saudis now use social media applications such as Snapchat to share pictures of dishes and messages with family and friends.
But opinion is divided on whether this brings people together or is a distraction from attending to prayer and other spiritual matters, a local publication reported recently.
Eman Al-Hariri said she was opposed to the use of social media at the iftar table. “It makes the individual lose his reverence and closeness to his faith, and even the joy of eating the meal with family members.” 
She also felt that it infringed on the intimacy and privacy of families.
Rahaf Alajlan disagreed: “It is a sharing application where you can share your day’s events with the ones you love.”
Atheer Alzahrani said some people “overdo it” by spending too much time on their phones instead of praying to God. However, these applications are positive in some ways because they allow people to share recipes or promote their businesses.
Others said that it allowed family members who are apart to spend time together, especially if they are in two different countries studying or on business.
Nemir Alhasoon, a pioneer in the field of new media, said those who have influence on their followers should post snapshots that benefit all ages rather than write about fatwas or complicated religious issues.
“It’s okay to remind someone of his religious duties from time to time, but one should be careful in these matters. I started an initiative recently through the application to distribute iftar meals to the needy with the help of a private bank,” he said.