Background
During the past decades, social media have provided important platforms in politics that are mainly used to educate and disseminate information. People can interact directly with politicians and party representatives, and share their ideas about civic and political issues (Wihbey, 2019). Platforms such as Facebook are widely used by politicians to present their policies to people and discuss any issue that is of public interest. A 2015 Pew Research survey revealed that the share of registered voters who follow political figures on social networking platforms doubled between 2010 and 2014 (Anderson, 2015). A 2018 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that 68% of Americans relied on social media for information on certain political matters (Bolter, 2019). These figures clearly show that social media have become an integral component of politics in the United States and worldwide.
The Influence of Social Media on Politics
In contemporary society, it is hard to talk about politics without including the internet, especially social media in the discourse. A 2018 Pew Research survey found that 68% of Americans get news on social media (Shearer & Matsa, 2018).
Various platforms are used to persuade the electorate by presenting to them party agendas and manifestos. Social media have diverse effects on politics, including their influence on voting, the spread of fake news, the promotion of rebellion toward government and politicians, and the proliferation of negative attitudes such as xenophobia, racism, and political polarization. According to Wihbey (2013), Facebook increased the turnout during the 2012 elections by more than 340,000 voters. Political parties also use it to reach people and learn about their problems (Kleinnijenhuis et al., 2019). Therefore, the exposure of citizens to social media content plays a key role in determining their political perceptions and preferences.
Advantages of Social Media on Politics
Social media have several advantages reading its increasing role in politics. The 2018 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center established that convenience, speed, and social interaction are the major benefits of social media in politics. Social media provide people with platforms where they can access key political information such as upcoming events, party schedules, and the party’s election agenda.
According to Wihbey (2013), Facebook increased the turnout during the 2012 elections by more than 340,000 voters. This outcome demonstrates the power of social media in influencing political events in the country. Political parties also use it to reach the people and learn about their problems (Kleinnijenhuis et al., 2019). Generally, social media allow people to participate actively in the election process by taking part in open dialogues that are conducted online. This explains why many American get news and information on social media.
Disadvantages of Social Media on Politics
Disadvantages of social media include the risk of promoting political polarization, spreading criticisms and misinformation about opposition parties, and creating a political gridlock (Increasing role of Social Media in Politics, n.d.). These concerns are confirmed by the results of the 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center which established widespread concerns about the accuracy of information on social media platforms among users in the U.S. (Shearer & Matsa, 2018). Moreover, its use in politics is expensive. For instance, Obama used $50 million on online platforms alone during the presidential campaigns. Several measures can be put in place to mitigate the effects of the negative uses of social media in politics.
Solution
Regulating the usage of their platforms for political discourses and banning users who use their accounts to promote ethnic or racial hatred, spread propaganda, and propagate incitement can help improve discipline among users (Harvey, 2014). For example, this is evident from the banning of President Trump from Twitter and Facebook for inciting his followers. Increased monitoring of the messages and videos shared by users can ensure that these platforms are used positively. Another measure is to create more stringent policies that guide political discourses and punish individuals who violate them.
For example, banning Donald Trump minimized the risk of inciting his followers. However, solutions such as monitoring content are not feasible because millions of users share self-generated content on social media every minute (Harvey, 2014). Besides that, such measures could violate people’s rights to freedom of speech and expression, thus sparking public outcry.
References
- Anderson, M. (2015). More Americans are using social media to connect with politicians. Pew Research. Web.
- Harvey, K. (Ed.). (2014). Encyclopedia of social media and politics. Sage Publications.
- Kleinnijenhuis, J., Van Hoof, A., & Van Atteveldt, W. (2019). Combined effects of mass media and social media on Political perceptions and preferences. Journal of Communication, 69(6), 650-673. Web.
- Shearer, E. & Matsa, K., E. (2018). News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2018. Web.
- Wihbey, J. (2013). Effects of the internet on politics: Research roundup. The Journalist’s Resource. Web.