7.4 The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse

Social media has revolutionized political discourse, enabling rapid information spread and new forms of engagement. However, it's also fueled misinformation, echo chambers, and polarization, challenging traditional political communication.

Digital strategies now dominate campaigns, with targeted ads and influencer partnerships reaching voters in novel ways. While this increases engagement, it raises concerns about transparency and the potential manipulation of public opinion.

Spread of Misinformation and Disinformation

Proliferation of False Information on Social Media Platforms

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Top images from around the web for Proliferation of False Information on Social Media Platforms

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  Information Disorder, Truth, and Trust – Introduction to College Research View original

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  Infographic: Social Media in the News – Tech Trends – Medium View original

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  Research summary: Troops, Trolls and Troublemakers: A Global Inventory of Organized Social Media ... View original

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  Information Disorder, Truth, and Trust – Introduction to College Research View original

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  Infographic: Social Media in the News – Tech Trends – Medium View original

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• Social media has enabled the rapid spread of fake news, false or misleading information presented as legitimate news
• Disinformation involves the deliberate creation and sharing of false information with the intent to deceive or manipulate public opinion (Russian interference in 2016 US elections)
• Misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of false or inaccurate information, often due to lack of fact-checking or verification before sharing
• Social media platforms struggle to effectively combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as content can go viral quickly before being flagged or removed

Automated Accounts and Algorithmic Amplification of False Information

• Bots, automated social media accounts, can be used to amplify the spread of misinformation and disinformation by repeatedly sharing and engaging with false content
• Trolls, individuals who deliberately provoke and antagonize others online, often contribute to the spread of false information and polarization of political discourse
• Algorithmic bias in social media platforms' content recommendation systems can inadvertently amplify false information by prioritizing engaging or controversial content, creating echo chambers where users are exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs (YouTube recommending conspiracy theory videos)

Social Media Activism and Engagement

Viral Content and Hashtag Activism

• Social media enables content to quickly go viral, spreading rapidly across networks and reaching a large audience
• Hashtag activism involves the use of hashtags to raise awareness and mobilize support for social and political causes (#MeToo movement, #BlackLivesMatter)
• Political memes, humorous or satirical images or videos with political themes, can quickly spread on social media and shape public perception of political issues and candidates

Online Political Engagement and Echo Chambers

• Social media has increased opportunities for online political engagement, such as sharing political content, participating in online discussions, and joining virtual political communities
• However, social media can also create bubbles or echo chambers where users are primarily exposed to information and opinions that align with their existing beliefs, leading to increased polarization and decreased exposure to diverse perspectives (Facebook users seeing mostly liberal or conservative content based on their friend networks and engagement patterns)

Digital Political Strategies

Digital Campaigning and Influencer Politics

• Political campaigns increasingly rely on digital strategies to reach and engage voters, such as targeted advertising, social media outreach, and data-driven voter mobilization efforts (Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Trump's 2016 campaign)
• Influencer politics involves partnering with social media influencers, individuals with large online followings, to promote political candidates or causes to their audiences
• Political campaigns use influencer marketing strategies to reach younger voters and generate organic, user-generated content in support of their candidates (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's use of Instagram Stories to connect with constituents)
• However, the use of influencers in politics raises concerns about transparency, as influencer endorsements may not always be disclosed as paid partnerships or campaign affiliations