Mass Media and Politics Blog by Raegan Bolden

Challenges Regulating Political Ads on Social Media Following the 2016 presidential election, the general population became aware of the significant impact and transformative nature of political advertising on social media. With the advent of the digital age, political campaigns are increasingly utilizing social media to communicate with and influence individuals. Although this transformation has made it possible to engage in political conversation and involvement through new channels, it has also made it significantly more difficult to regulate political advertisements on social media platforms. The dynamic character of these platforms, the volume of content, and the dynamic nature of political communication all create an atmosphere that is difficult to regulate effectively.   One of the obstacles to regulation of political ads is the nature of social media platforms that allows every user to be able to create and disseminate content. It has been proven that many political advert

  Impact of Digital Advertising on Political Campaigns Political campaigns enable candidates to communicate their message directly to voters and shape the political discourse. By utilizing diverse media platforms, candidates can effectively target audiences that may have previously been disengaged from the political process. Advertising allows them to establish their identity, emphasize significant matters, and draw attention to the weaknesses of their rivals. Correspondence to editors, news or feature pieces, editorial commentary, or responses to editorials in a regularly published newspaper, magazine, radio, or television broadcast that typically does not require payment for the printed space or broadcast time is not categorized under political advertising. However, political campaigns involve various activities such as rallies, debates, fundraisers, canvassing, engaging with constituents, and engaging in physical contact with infants. These aspects have been integral to political

  Social Media and Political Campaigns Adverts During their campaigns and electoral process, politicians usually spend billions of money to gain momentum at the polls. For years, the budget for political campaign adverts went to traditional media like television and radio to reach a diverse demographic audience. However, social media has sparked a new revolution in political campaigns and the electoral process, impacting political parties and candidates to efficiently engage with a significant number of voters within a brief timeframe. Politicians began to look beyond the traditional media, especially to gain votes from the youth. The article examines the utilization and increasing prevalence of social media in the realm of politics and its overall influence, particularly on campaign advertising. Shift in the Political Advertisement Spending According to impartial ad tracker AdImpact and campaign financing data, the 2022 midterm elections are projected to be the costliest in his

  Initiatives to Promote Internet Freedom The unrestricted nature and ability to freely express oneself facilitated by social networking platforms, together with blogs, video-sharing platforms, and other contemporary communication tools, have demonstrated an unprecedented and occasionally disruptive impact in certain nations.   Despite the growing consequences of misinformation in social media in relation to politics, internet freedom has become a significant part of political movements globally.   In authoritarian nations, internet freedom is increasingly becoming suppressed.   However, in democratic countries, some people express the need for initiatives to facilitate online freedom because it aligns with the strategic goal of strengthening civic society (Shirky, 2011).   Some people in democratic countries who encourage the restriction of internet freedom fear the consequences it produces when the wrong people use it to create chaos over the Internet through misinformation.   Shir

  The Power of Social Media and the Obama Presidency According to Shirky (2011), despite the confusing records of the impact of social media on political communication, the platforms are widely recognized as tools for coordinating political movements in the modern world. The success of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and presidency has been largely credited to his successful utilization of social networking platforms, mobile devices, and interactive websites to involve various groups in political engagement. Obama is termed as the first " social media president .” The term “social media president” gives a fascinating analysis of the use of social media by the President. The phrase also discloses the significant and enduring narrative that revolves around the transformation of the presidential office. The Obama administration was the first president to utilize social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. The White House proudly asserts that Oba

  The Future of Internet Freedom The Freedom House has reported that internet freedom is declining globally, posing serious threats to human rights and safety. In the present era of technology, it is not easy to find someone who does not rely on the Internet for various purposes. Presently, the Internet serves many purposes, ranging from accessing news to accomplishing tasks. Due to the prevalence of social media and video calls, it has become one of the most widely utilized means of communication. Hence, one may be pardoned for supposing that internet freedom should not be impeded. Unfortunately, governments from all over the world are imposing restrictions on content shared online. According to the United Nations , false news and misinformation increase are frequently cited as the primary reasons for implementing limited access to online content, alongside national security concerns. Governments and social media companies face significant human rights dilemmas concerning Interne