On a quiet Thursday morning in Amman, the usual rhythm of government business gave way to something more hopeful. Inside a meeting room, Government Communications Minister Mohammad Momani sat down with members of the Pulse of Change Association for Youth Empowerment, and the conversation quickly turned to what really matters: the raw, restless energy of Jordan’s young people. Momani, who also serves as the government’s official spokesperson, did not come with a list of official talking points or bureaucratic promises. Instead, he came with a message that felt both simple and profound—Jordan’s youth are gifted, their ideas are valuable, and their projects deserve more than just applause; they deserve real support. He spoke not as a minister addressing an audience, but as someone who genuinely believes that the country’s brightest hope is sitting right in front of him, in the form of young men and women who refuse to wait for change. His words were not empty encouragement. They were a recognition that innovation and creativity, when nurtured, can become the backbone of a stronger, more resilient nation. For the young people in the room, many of whom had spent countless hours building initiatives, organizing dialogues, and imagining better futures, it was a rare and powerful moment of being seen—not as a demographic to be managed, but as partners in shaping what Jordan means in the twenty-first century.
The meeting soon turned to a challenge that has become all too familiar in the digital age: the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Momani was candid about the threat. He described how digital falsehoods, once unleashed, travel with alarming speed, feeding on fear, confusion, and outrage. In a region already marked by instability and competing narratives, the ability of a single misleading post to fracture trust is not theoretical; it is real, and it is dangerous. The minister argued that Jordan’s resilience depends on its people’s ability to think critically about what they see online. He called for raising youth awareness about how to assess digital content, how to verify information before sharing it, and how to recognize the subtle techniques of manipulation that operate behind seemingly innocent posts. This was not a lecture about the dangers of technology, but a call to action: young people must become active guardians of truth, not passive consumers of whatever the algorithm places before them. Responsible social media use, he suggested, is a form of citizenship. When a young person pauses before clicking share, fact-checks a source, or challenges a false rumor among friends, they are doing more than protecting themselves—they are protecting the entire community. Momani stressed that this fight against misinformation is not merely about defending the government or any particular policy. It is about safeguarding public awareness from misleading narratives that can weaken social cohesion, undermine democratic participation, and erode the common ground on which any healthy society depends. The youth, he implied, are the first line of defense, and their role is not passive. They must learn to wield critical thinking with the same skill and confidence that they use to navigate social media platforms. Every verified fact, every sober assessment, every refusal to amplify hate or rumor becomes an act of national service. In a world where digital disinformation is often weaponized, Jordan’s resilience begins with a young person’s decision to question what they see.
But awareness alone, Momani emphasized, is not enough. The tools and habits of critical thinking cannot flourish in a vacuum; they need fertile ground, and that ground is built through community-based initiatives, training programs, and accessible digital tools. He spoke of the need to integrate these resources so that young people from every governorate, from Amman to Irbid to Ma’an, can find pathways to engage meaningfully. The minister recognized that many young Jordanians already have the desire to participate, but they often lack the opportunities, mentorship, or technical skills to turn that desire into impact. This is where the digital revolution can become a great equalizer. Social media platforms and digital technologies, he noted, offer effective ways to reach youth where they already are, to promote training opportunities, and to break down the barriers of geography and circumstance that have historically excluded some communities from progress. He specifically pointed to the potential of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and digital communications as fields where young Jordanians can not only find jobs but also become leaders, innovators, and creators. Momani’s vision was one of a connected ecosystem: schools, universities, civil society organizations, and government agencies all working together to create a pipeline of opportunity that doesn’t end with a certificate, but continues through mentorship, project funding, and community support. He seemed to be saying that young people do not need handouts; they need a foundation. They need access to training that actually matches the demands of the modern economy, and they need digital tools that allow them to experiment, fail, learn, and try again. When such an ecosystem exists, youth engagement ceases to be a buzzword and becomes a tangible force for progress. The minister’s remarks hinted at a deeper philosophy: that the fight against misinformation is inseparable from the broader struggle for opportunity. People who feel valued, who believe their future is worth investing in, are far more likely to build than to destroy, to fact-check than to share rumors, and to protect their communities rather than undermine them.
Throughout the meeting, Momani also returned to a theme that might seem old-fashioned in an age of hashtags and viral videos, but which remains essential: national values and principles. He observed that young people’s presence online gives them a unique platform, not just to promote themselves or their projects, but to defend Jordan’s interests and to articulate a vision of the country that is confident, principled, and forward-looking. In a digital landscape often dominated by cynicism and negativity, there is enormous power in a young person who stands up and says, “This is what Jordan is, and this is what we believe in.” The minister made clear that online presence is not a trivial pastime. It is a space where national narratives are shaped, where the country’s reputation is forged, and where future leaders are tested. He then widened the lens, speaking about the personal skills that youth initiatives help develop: communication, leadership, resilience, collaboration. These are not abstract competencies; they are the substance of a meaningful life and a functioning democracy. When a young person takes on a project, they learn to listen, to negotiate, to adapt, to inspire others. They discover their own limits and push past them. They prepare themselves not just for the workplace, but for the unpredictability of life itself. Momani’s tone here was almost paternal, in the best sense of the word—not condescending, but genuinely invested. He wanted the young people in that room to understand that the work they are doing is shaping them as much as it is shaping the world around them. He then spoke about the Ministry of Government Communications and its ongoing efforts to operate across all governorates, explaining government policy clearly and transparently. He stressed that every decision has a purpose, a reasoning, and a practical impact, and that citizens deserve to understand all three. This is not about spin or messaging; it is about mutual respect between a government and its people. When young people understand why decisions are made, they can engage with policy in a more meaningful way—agreeing where they agree, challenging where they disagree, but always participating in good faith.
Mashhour Qutaishat, president of Pulse of Change Association for Youth Empowerment, responded to the minister with equal passion and a clear sense of purpose. He introduced his organization’s Youth Council for Future Dialogues, a platform established specifically to encourage youth and political engagement in Jordan. Qutaishat described how the council seeks to develop initiatives that are rooted not in theory, but in the actual ideas and priorities of young people themselves. Too often, he seemed to suggest, youth participation is reduced to a token gesture—a young person sitting in a meeting, smiling for a photograph, but without real influence. The Youth Council aims to change that by giving young people genuine ownership over their initiatives and a real seat at the table in shaping public discourse. The council promotes Jordan’s national narrative and progress through knowledge and civic engagement, addressing pressing local and regional issues head-on rather than avoiding them. Qutaishat’s words carried a quiet confidence. He did not sound like someone asking for permission to contribute; he sounded like someone declaring that Jordanian youth are ready and able to contribute, and that the only question is whether the rest of society will meet them halfway. He spoke explicitly about the talent and potential of Jordanian youth, emphasizing their ability to contribute to the Kingdom’s development and achievements. This is not mere patriotism, but a belief grounded in the lived experience of working with young people who are already solving problems, creating content, starting businesses, and leading conversations. Qutaishat also stressed the importance of supporting initiatives that build skills and enable young people to participate actively in national affairs. He anchored this vision in a broader context, noting that this work proceeds under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, whose ongoing support for youth empowerment has opened doors and created space for innovation. For Qutaishat, the relationship between the government and civil society is not adversarial; it is complementary. The state can provide infrastructure, legitimacy, and resources, while associations like Pulse of Change can provide trust, grassroots connection, and a deep understanding of what young people actually need.
The members of the council who accompanied Qutaishat had no shortage of ideas about how to strengthen this partnership. They called for achieving closer cooperation with the Ministry of Government Communications, and they were specific about what that cooperation should look like. They want young people equipped with media skills, technological expertise, and political literacy—tools that will allow them to understand the information landscape, communicate effectively, and participate in public life with confidence. They spoke about fostering national pride, not through forced slogans, but through a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose. They detailed plans to expand training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital content creation, fields that are rapidly becoming the foundational literacies of the twenty-first century. The council members also emphasized the need for better youth initiatives focused on digital literacy and countering disinformation. They are not interested in theoretical conversations; they want practical programs that help young Jordanians turn creative ideas into real-world projects. They envision a future where a young person in Zarqa can develop an app to fact-check local news, where a student in Aqaba can produce digital content that tells authentic Jordanian stories to the world, where a recent graduate in Salt can use cybersecurity skills to protect community organizations from online threats. The meeting ended, as many such meetings do, with promises of follow-up and shared intentions. But there was something different in the air. It was a sense that the conversation had not been merely symbolic. The minister had listened, the young people had spoken, and both sides had recognized a common purpose. In that room in Amman, the distance between government and youth seemed to shrink. What emerged was not a policy announcement or a political statement, but a reminder that Jordan’s greatest resource has always been its people—especially its young people, who carry within them the hope of a better tomorrow. The road ahead is not easy. Digital disinformation will continue to evolve, political participation will require constant cultivation, and the gap between ambition and opportunity will not disappear overnight. But meetings like this one matter. They create the connective tissue between intention and action. They send a clear message to young people everywhere in Jordan: your ideas are not too small, your voices are not too quiet, your dreams are not unrealistic. You are the pulse of change, and the country is ready to listen.