The Real Effects of Social Media on Politics
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 Americans (10%) agree that social media has mainly beneficial effects on the state of the country today. One-quarter of individuals who hold these positive views cite the sites' ability to keep people informed and aware as the primary reason, while approximately one-tenth cite the sites' facilitation of communication, connection, and community-building as the primary reason.
In most cases, journalists are controlled by their institutions on what and what not to report on radio and national television. Besides, news is a 24/7 phenomenon on a wide variety of platforms, unlike the days when people had to wait for the next newspaper or T.V. news hour to acquire the newest information. The advent of social media has advanced this situation. When you check-in, you will immediately be exposed to the most recent news pieces and viewpoints discussed by your network.
Rumors and Fake News
According to the Brookings Institution’s study report,
distrust in democratic institutions and heightened political polarization are
fueled by the spread of fake news by politicians and supporters. Studies have
found that only 0.15 percent of the population is exposed to some fake news
daily, and only 1 percent is responsible for 80 percent of all fake news being
circulated. For instance, Sam Woolley, director of propaganda studies at the
University of Texas at Austin's Center for Media Engagement, states,
"Trump's primary use of Twitter has been to spread propaganda and
manipulate public opinion." Trump used Twitter to discredit information or
his opponents' positions. During the last election, 36 of Trump's tweets
contained false information. Surprisingly, the 36 posts received
a collective 22.6 million likes and 3.9 million retweets, as analyzed by CNBC
using a historical log of Trump’s posts. President Trump's Twitter account was
permanently banned after the attack on the U.S. Capitol due to the risk of
further incitement of violence. After Trump was banned from the platform, the
number of fake election-related tweets dropped by 73%. Trump's situation is a
perfect illustration of the rate at which politicians' supporters spread false
information by politicians on social media platforms.
 |
| Trump and his allies banned from using social media platforms to spread false information. Source: Washington Post |
Confirmation
Bias
The
influence of confirmation bias is subtle but substantial in online
conversations. A politician has many social media followers who share their
opinion. Once you like or follow a particular politician’s page, social media
only shows posts of similar opinions on your timeline. Because of this, you will
find that much of the online content you read shares the same opinion as you
do, whether it's a tweet, a Facebook post, a pin, or even TikTok videos. Voters
become more ideologically rigid and less open to new perspectives from opposing
sides. This phenomenon is known as "echo chambers," which develop
when social media users only encounter content that validates their own views,
leading to more entrenched polarization.
Sources
Auxier, B. (2020). 64%
of Americans say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things
are going in the U.S. today. Pew Research Centre. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/10/15/64-of-americans-say-social-media-have-a-mostly-negative-effect-on-the-way-things-are-going-in-the-u-s-today/
Lawson, M. A., Anand, S., & Kakkar, H. (2023). Tribalism and tribulations: The social costs
of not sharing fake news. Journal
of Experimental Psychology: General. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/03/fake-news-social-circles
Rattner,
N. (2021, January 13). Trump’s election lies were among his most popular
tweets. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/13/trump-tweets-legacy-of-lies-misinformation-distrust.html
Hi Raegan, I enjoyed reading your post and definitely agree that this a relevant topic. It's amazing how fast political news can spread online now with the use of social media. Unfortunately, that does sometimes lead to the sharing of misinformation, but none the less still impressive. I don't think anyone expected the President to spread misinformation but then there was Trump. Also, having many credible sources and statistics was a great way to support you argument. Hopefully in the future we don't have as many or any key political figures using social media to spread misinformation.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteI appreciate your thoughtful comment. Let's hope for a future where our political leaders use social media responsibly and where misinformation is minimized through collective efforts to promote accuracy and accountability. It's an ongoing challenge, but with awareness and education, we can work towards a more trustworthy information landscape.
Hey Raegan! Social media's role in politics is a mixed bag for sure. It's fantastic for those who wish to be constantly up to date on evolving news, but the rampant spread of fake news is deeply concerning. Responsibility lies with both users and those who own platforms to fight against misinformation, which has been seen with Twitter's addition of community notes. Users must fact-check and embrace diverse viewpoints, while social media platforms must balance user engagement with responsible information sharing. It's a complex issue that requires attention for a healthier and more informed political landscape, especially as technology continues to evolve!
ReplyDeleteHi Maxwell,
DeleteI appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this. I agree that the users have a responsibility to exercise critical thinking and tolerance in response to this issue, while platforms have the responsibility to strike a balance between user interest and content ethics. Twitter's introduction of community notes is a step in the right direction that every other company should follow. For the sake of a more robust and well-informed political scene, it is increasingly important to tackle these problems as technology develops.
Hi Raegan! Great post! I agree with you that despite have political discourse at our fingertips at all times - the question of validity will always be a question. Political opinions are constantly flooding our social media pages and it can be very overwhelming at times. Social media has had some wonderful positive effects in spreading messages and news however it is not without a dark side. Unfortunately so much of our population is falling for fake news and being fooled by dark twisted media.
ReplyDelete