Dhaka: The young generation’s addiction to social media is gradually taking an alarming turn, said Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Sunday.

‘Seeing their addiction to the internet, I’ve to say that Facebook is now a fakebook,’ he said while inaugurating the two-day Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Summit at a city hotel.

Joy said hated speeches on the internet that push the young generation to confrontation can in no way be called open speech. ‘This can’t be supported at all,’ he said.

Mentioning that the closure of social media sites is not the solution to the phenomenon as 10 websites will sprout if one is shut down, he urged the youths to be cautious while using such platforms.

The ICT expert said the government is taking a stern stance against the spread of false propaganda and communal and confrontational statements using digital media.

Talking about the recent quota reform movement, he said only 3,000-4,000 jobseekers can be recruited in the administration every year. ‘Whereas jobseekers more than the number can be recruited alone in the IT sector. I’ll urge the youths not to go after government job much. You can lean towards the IT sector.’

Joy said they will establish an ecosystem where youths themselves will turn into entrepreneurs after receiving training. ‘Bangladesh has turned into a No 1 destination in the world in the freelancing sector. Anyone can earn from the IT sector sitting anywhere.’

Noting that they were currently providing training to some 30,000 youths every year, he said they have set a target to bring 1 lakh young men under the training in 2021. ‘These youths will turn into manpower after receiving training,’ he said, adding that the Business Process Outsourcing will generate employment for 1 lakh youths by 2021.

Joy also said it will be possible to earn over US$ 300 million every year from the BPO sector once speedy internet connections are ensured.

State Minister of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke at the inaugural ceremony held with Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar in the chair.