Journal of Social Sciences and Media Studies

Mental Health in the Digital Age: Comparing AI Counseling with Traditional Counseling among University Students

Fouzia Rehman — 2025-03-24

The field of mental health therapy is going through a transformation due to advancements in AI. Understanding how AI can be utilized in the provision of counseling services and how it can be compared to human counseling is very crucial for shaping the future of mental health-related treatments. This research aimed to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of human counseling and AI-based counseling services to unravel the differences in mental health outcomes among university students. Because university life is full of challenges for students, such as academic pressure, social adjustments, and personal issues that affect their academic career and lead to low mental health and well-being. For this purpose, students were divided into two groups: students receiving human counseling and students receiving AI-based counseling. Through a systematic sampling method, approximately 120 university students were selected who required mental health counseling as identified by their mental health counselors. Pre- and post-mental health assessments were conducted through ‘WEMWBS’. The results indicate that human counseling is more effective in providing counseling services with greater efficiency in addressing mental health compared to AI-based counseling services. The study concludes that the wider field of psychology is still in need of mental health counselors, and is not quite ready for the handover of counseling practices into the still-controversial hands of AI. These professionals and their skill sets will not become obsolete in the foreseeable future. A recommendation is given for an effective integrative approach by combining both counseling approaches, AI, and human counseling for comprehensive mental health services.

Status of Media Literacy Education in Pakistan

Dr. Sara Wahid — 2025-03-24

This research was aimed to identify the media literacy education practices prevalent in the selected universities of Karachi, Pakistan. This is qualitative research, consisting of 13 in-depth interviews of media faculties from public, private, and semi-private universities of Karachi. Sample was extracted through purposive sampling technique. Key findings reveal that media literacy education has become inevitable for all media audiences particularly after experiencing infodemic during covid 19. Besides that, lack of synchronicity between public and private sector universities in terms of resource allocation and capacity building initiatives was significantly addressed by the respondents thus reflecting the absence of media literacy component in the national higher education policy of Pakistan. Academicians are cognizant of the inevitable need of media literacy; but due to the absence of media literacy curriculum guidelines, their pedagogical inclinations reflect their individual subject orientation and technical expertise only.

Contesting The Dramatic Representation of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s new web series on Netflix: A Comparative Study with The Historical Reality

Farkhanda Shahid Khan — 2025-03-24

This article is a comparative study of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest Netflix series about the old red light Diamond Bazaar, alongside historical account of courtesans provided by Veena Talwar Oldenburg. Given the argument that Bhansali’s dramatization has preferred a cinematic flair over what he stated the cultural and historical accuracy, the purpose of this fact-checking research is to verify accuracy of claims and information presented in Bhansali’s dramatic representation of Heeramandi through the reliable historicist resources and evidences. In academic context, it is significant while warranting or disproving the integrity and reliability of the statements presented in Bhansali’s series with the help of comparative method. Though Bhansali is popular for his elaborate narratives, nuanced characters, and opulent images, and his films frequently address representation and identity issues, yet his cinematic approach strikes a deep chord with viewers and sparks conversations that go beyond the realm of cinematic realities. The present dramatic series has been set to explore the cultural and historical context of Heera Mandi – a red-light district in Lahore; however, instead of documenting the facts, Bhansali has manipulated the cultural and historical demonstration of reality. Hence, this comparative view of the research concludes the inadequacy on director’s part in revering and portraying the courtesans’ culture and reducing them to only spectacle.

Social Media and Peace Information: A Case for Enhance Peace- Building Initiatives

Wonuola Monsurat M — 2025-03-24

The incessant occurrence of security breach among Nigerians especially youths is of global concern. This has prompted peace advocacy groups to devise alternative mean of promoting peace through social media platforms. This is because social media has been adjudged as a potent tool in promoting peace across the globe. Literature is grounded on social media and peace, there is a dearth of studies on the social media contents and peace building knowledge among social media users. This study therefore, examines the social media peace information and peacebuilding initiatives among Nigerian. The study was anchored by Norm Activation Model and Connectivism theories. Descriptive survey research method was employed while questionnaire served as the instrument to gather data from 336 undergraduates systematically selected from University of Ilorin and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The data gathered from the questionnaire were analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Simple percentage and frequency tables were used to present the data. The findings revealed that the constant encounter with social media peace information coupled with the knowledge of ascribed responsibility of individuals by the youths enhanced their level of awareness of the need to promote peace in Nigeria, thereby, enhancing peace building knowledge among the undergraduates as it has motivated them to participate in peace advocacy campaigns and shun violence. The study recommended that policymakers should leverage on social media to promote peace and security in the country by creating platforms that can facilitate peaceful dialogue and participation of youths especially undergraduates in peacebuilding initiatives as this can foster unity and peaceful co-existence among various ethno-religious divides in Nigeria.

Discursive Power Play: Analyzing Front Page Headlines in English and Urdu Newspapers During PDM’s 'No-Confidence Motion'

Gulab Ahmed — 2025-03-24

The main objective of this research is to analyze the language used in the headlines of Pakistani Urdu and English newspapers in relation to Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) ‘no-confidence motion’ against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government. The study seeks to investigate whether the language and policies of the media are influenced by powerful groups within Pakistani society. To achieve this, the research conducted a comparative analysis of the discourse presented in the headlines of two English and two Urdu Pakistani newspapers concerning the ‘no-confidence motion’. The data collected is subject to qualitative analysis, employing textual and contextual. The results of the study indicate a significant disparity in how Urdu and English newspapers portray the media event. The study concludes that the media's language and policies may not always represent public opinion, as they can be manipulated to support either opposition’s or government's perspective. The study also found that Urdu Newspapers use more sensational words and phrases when compared to English newspapers. The study highlights the significance of exposing media exploitation to prevent the manipulation of public opinion and provide people with impartial and unbiased news information.