Mass Media and Politics Blog by Raegan Bolden

  Changing Politics. Where are we heading? Social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have revolutionized political practices in the United States and other democracies. According to Bennett and Pfetsch, political communication and related fields like the press and politics are based on the interaction between the social factors that determine audiences, the communication mechanisms that deliver messages, and the impacts of those processes. Today, the widespread use of social media in politics has transformed political practices by altering the aspects of political communication, thanks to the capacity of social media platforms to produce content and distribute it to millions of people instantly. Internet Voting The widespread use of social media has led political scientists and cybersecurity officials to propose online voting to improve transparency in election results. These online voting suggestions can increase voter turnout in future elections. Bradley Tusk, Ube...

  Major Political/Social Movements and Social Media Social media platforms are significant in mobilizing people to participate in civic rights movements. Some Americans believe that the invention of social media helps create awareness, while others believe that it causes more damage than profit. According to findings by the Pew Research Center in 2020 on U.S. adults, conducted between July 13 and 19, 2018, 8 out of 10 respondents agree that social media platforms are either very (31%) or moderately (49%) useful for raising public awareness about political or social concerns. About 77% believe that social media sites have been useful for launching effective social movements. This article will examine the major social and political movements facilitated through social media in America over the past decade. 1.       Black Lives Matter Movements . In 2013, in response to George Zimmerman's acquittal for the murder of Trayvon Martin, three black women acti...

  Ways That Social Media Affects Politics Today Have you ever read a political-related post on social media and said to yourself, "Wow, what was this person thinking? From where did he get this information?" I often get this feeling when scrolling down social media pages. On platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter, political candidates and their supporters always share their opinions/views. There are dedicated pages for each political group where they can spread their message and solicit financial support. In this blog, I will look into the leading ways in which social media is currently affecting contemporary politics. Keeping the Public Informed A few Americans agree that the one positive impact of social media platforms on politics is the fast dissemination of information about the behaviors of politicians. We all need such information to make the right decision during elections. A study by the Pew Research Center discovered that a small percentage of Ameri...

  Polarization in America. Source: Brown University Is Social Media the Root Cause of Political Polarization? Social media, in terms of its role as a forum for political discourse, is characterized by its growing interactivity on the Web. We now have the capacity to both acquire and contribute information through this new media. The platform has demonstrated its capacity for scalability, allowing individuals to choose the type of information they desire to receive and share their own content with individuals within their social network. The Internet has resulted in the dissemination of political assertions and discussions, facilitating the organization and collaboration among individuals. But is it the sole reason for political polarization? According to a study conducted by Jesse Shapiro, an economist from Brown University, it has been observed that Americans' attitudes towards individuals belonging to the opposing political party have worsened at a higher rate compared to res...

Since the invention of the Internet, there has been a great deal of curiosity regarding whether and how social media and other digital platforms influence political practices. The potential implications of these platforms depend on the type of information individuals are exposed to, potentially altering news distribution among different users. Generally, the influence of social media on individuals and groups can potentially shape user’s behaviors, preferences, and value systems. People are increasingly adopting the new media to access information, which has bridged communication gaps created by traditional communication, including televisions and radios. Currently, there is a greater abundance of evidence related to the impact of social media usage on politics. How Social Media has Altered Political Practices Space for political sphere Social media platforms have created a space for the political sphere that is critical in facilitating the sharing and dissemination of political ...