ISSN 2087-3352 Is it possible to have freedom of expression? Religious Minorities' Perceptions of Social Media in Pakistan ZUBAIR MAHMOOD, MUHAMMAD JAWED ASLAM & JAMILAH AHMAD 1. Assistant Professor at Department of Mass Communication, Superior University, Lahore 2. Head of Department of Mass Communication, Superior University, Lahore 3. Professor at School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia E-mail: zubairary@gmail.com, mianjawed@hotmail.com, jahmad@usm.my | Phone: +923216683537 Abstract This research article aims to understand that why social media is being perceived for freedom of speech by religious minorities in Pakistan. This qualitative study is based on four in-depth interviews of Christian activists in Pakistan. The study found that there are some crucial issues in giving media coverage to the religious minorities in Pakistan.The results demonstrate that religious minorities in Pakistan are facing segregations due to the prejudiced mindset of higher administration decisions, sponsors and lack of information with respect to religious minorities and their religious rituals. Besides, that absence of resistance from both minorities and larger part is playing the part in wrecking peace. The researchers found that English media whether print or electronic are giving adequate scope to the religious minorities in Pakistan. Furthermore, religious minorities in Pakistan are more inclined towards using social networking sites like Facebook to exercise their freedom of speech and expression as its more convenient in conveying the message without any mediated angling. Keywords: Minorities, Freedom of Expression, Facebook Abstrak Artikel penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami mengapa media sosial dipersepsikan sebagai kebebasan berbicara oleh minoritas agama di Pakistan. Studi kualitatif ini didasarkan pada empat wawancara mendalam tentang aktivitas Kristen di Pakistan. Studi ini menemukan bahwa ada beberapa isu penting dalam memberikan liputan media kepada minoritas agama di Pakistan. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa agama minoritas di Pakistan menghadapi segregasi karena pola pikir berprasangka dari keputusan administrasi yang lebih tinggi, sponsor dan kurangnya informasi sehubungan dengan agama minoritas dan ritual keagamaan mereka. Selain itu, tidak adanya perlawanan dari minoritas dan sebagian besar adalah bagian dari perusak perdamaian. Para peneliti menemukan bahwa media Inggris, baik cetak maupun elektronik memberikan ruang lingkup yang memadai kepada minoritas agama di Pakistan. Selain itu, agama minoritas di Pakistan lebih cenderung menggunakan situs jejaring sosial, seperti Facebook, untuk menggunakan kebebasan berbicara dan berekspresi, karena lebih nyaman dalam menyampaikan pesan tanpa perantara apapun. Kata Kunci: Minoritas, Kebebasan Berekspresi, Facebook CoverAge Journal of Strategic Communication Vol. 13, No.1, Hal. 1-10 September 2022 Fakultas Ilmu Komunikasi, Universitas Pancasila Accepted January 22, 2022 Revised Juny 24, 2022 Approved August 25, 2022