Analyzing the Role of Social Media in disrupting Political Discourse and Public Opinion.

 Analyzing the Role of Social Media in disrupting  Political Discourse and Public Opinion.

“Social media platforms have become vital to today's society in the digital age, influencing public opinion and political debate. Politicians, political parties, and governments are increasingly embracing social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to reach out to constituents and impact public opinion.” (Mohammed Saaida) Although these platforms have the potential to encourage democratic participation, they also present difficulties, such as the spread of false information and an increase of conflict.This essay will discuss role of social media, exploring impact on political discourse and public sentiment as well as negative impacts of social media on public discourse and opinion and the solutions to this problem .

Social media helps people who think alike to find each other and talk about politics. It's a place where groups who don't always get heard can speak up. This makes political conversations more fair and diverse. Some groups have used social media to organize protests and make sure important issues are talked about. (Kumar) On the one hand, an increasing number of political and social activist influencers have appeared, who focus on political and socially relevant topics and attempt to initiate social change but that might not be the case as social media is also used for attention, to drag people, to mislead people and to use it for division. “Moreover, more "regular" influencers, whose main work is something else, are taking a stand on political issues, such as gender equality, climate justice, and sustainable lifestyles even though this is not their primary focus which is totally wrong as they lack information which might promote negativity.” (Christina Peter and Luisa Muth) However, The spread of false news articles,and decline of public discourse have been encouraged by the increase of false narratives, conspiracy theories, and false news on social media.Moreover, the issue is made worse by the fact that systems sometimes favor sensational or controversial material above accurate reporting. (Mohammed Saaida) Social media platforms have the ability to shape public opinion by amplifying certain narratives and viewpoints. It might be difficult to discuss politics on social media. It's similar to a large conference room where everyone is speaking, but often only those who share the same opinions can hear one another. This may lead some people to believe that they are the only ones who agree with them, which isn't always the case. False information is frequently shared, which might make it difficult to determine the truth. People may get very passionate about their own opinions as a result and become reluctant to listen to others. At times, people even attempt to deceive others into accepting misinformation. People may find it difficult to know what to believe as a result of this. As we move forward in this digital age, it is important to critically examine the role of social media in our political discourse and to work towards creating a more informed and inclusive public sphere. Sometimes, people say mean things to each other online, which can make people feel scared to say what they think. And sometimes, the people who run social media don't always do a good job of making sure that everyone is being nice to each other.

To address this problem in a better way, we should introduce media literacy and fact checking and encourage with fact checking tools to promote positive and truthful, verified news and opinion. “As we navigate the digital age, we should promote digital citizenship by promoting positive behavior and promote civic discourse to avoid harmful attacks or bad influence.” (“State-Level Legal and Political Strategies Following the Repeal of Roe v. Wade: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief”) We can try a few things to improve social media as an environment for political discourse. We can make an effort to listen to those who have views that vary from our own. This can assist us in understanding their thought processes. Secondly, we should try to communicate truth rather than only wishful thinking. This can assist us in making sure the information we provide is genuine. Third, we can try to treat one other well on the internet. This might encourage us to speak out more in talks and to not be afraid to express our opinions. Lastly, social media managers might attempt to ensure that individuals are treating one other with respect. It's really important to think carefully about how social media affects politics. We need to make sure that everyone has a chance to talk and learn about different ideas. We also need to be careful about how we use social media for politics and be aware of the problems it can cause.(Mohammed Saaida)

           

Works Cited

Christina Peter and Luisa Muth. “Social Media Influencers' Role in Shaping Political Opinions and Actions of Young Audiences.” 08 2023.

Kumar, Vijay. “The digital public square: How social media is shaping political discourse.” 16 12 2023.

Mohammed Saaida, Mohammed. “The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Discourse and Propaganda.” 04 08 2023.

“State-Level Legal and Political Strategies Following the Repeal of Roe v. Wade: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief.” The National Academies Press, https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27452/state-level-legal-and-political-strategies-following-the-repeal-of-roe-v-wade. Accessed 22 February 2024.

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