How Has Social Media Affected Politics?

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Edited by Tanmayi Patil, Aliza Susatijo, Owen Andrews, and Sarah Ahmad

Social media: the tool that allows marginalized voices to be heard. Anyone can create a post to express their ideas; from grassroots movements to political campaigns, media platforms have opened doors for many and put the elites on the hot seat. Fake news or a campaign post, social media has taken over politics. An infamous example of this took place during the 2016 presidential election: through social media, Russia connected itself to Trump’s team and may have played a role in Trump beating Clinton. Still, this isn’t entirely unprecedented: people have been influencing politics through non-state actors or information campaigns since the first democracy. However, the scale at which these platforms are operating and the number of people they influence are topics that future administrations must increasingly account for in their campaign strategy.  

Unlike traditional news outlets, social media isn’t as regulated; anyone can make a comment or a post about a candidate that goes viral. For instance, during the 2016 election, the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory was born. A false claim spread through various platforms that the Democratic Party was hosting a child trafficking ring from a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C., began to trend across social media platforms, exhibiting how damaging fake news can be towards a campaign, even after it has been debunked. A false story curated in seconds yet left lasting impacts on the Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic Party for that election cycle. These stories can begin anywhere—from misled individuals to organizations with specific agendas. In the case of “Pizzagate,” Russia made burner accounts to escalate misinformation and deceive people into believing that the Democratic Party was running a pedophile tracking ring. Even though they were not the ones that made the initial posts, they supported the false claims and spread the story further.

The problem stems from excessive amounts of information being thrown at social media users: social media apps track their customers' usage to compile a feed that is specifically catered towards users’ interests. So, when users interact with political posts, the political ideals represented in them will show up more and more in their feed. This creates polarization and echo chambers, as people’s feeds become more about political values that they agree with, supporting biased thinking that lacks perspectives of other political discourse.

Political media posts aren’t all smear campaigns like we saw in the 2016 election. The rise of TikTok, X, and Instagram has given ordinary people a platform to express their political views. This new form of political discourse makes elected officials aware of issues that the public prioritizes. The MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements only gained national attention through social media: on what was then known as Twitter, users would use “#Metoo” after sharing their sexual assault stories, while posts about the murder of George Floyd enraged the public, leading to protests and more political discourse about police brutality. If a large volume of posts are about a specific policy, it will affect how politicians run for office and their policy decisions. Former President Joe Biden’s backing of the Black Lives Matter movement gained clear support for his presidential campaign. Social media also enables public awareness of not only domestic but also international events, allowing people to have a better understanding of what is happening around them. People from all over the world can share their perspectives on events, and audiences are not confined to regulated news channels or papers.

There are also benefits for campaign teams: candidates can display their authentic selves and ideas free from the biased interpretations of media outlets. This puts political candidates in charge of their own images and stories, allowing for more engagement between the candidates and voters. The younger generation in particular can stay informed and involved through social media, which is a key group for campaigners because they are known for their low voter turnout.   

While it is undeniable that social media has affected politics in ways that are negative, its benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Social media puts candidates in charge of their campaigns, brings the younger generations to the polls, and gives individuals a voice beyond their vote. For the first time in political history, everyone can be active participants in political discussions—with just a click of a button, anyone can voice their thoughts, ideas, or even outrage about a political candidate. Politics are not just for the elites anymore; they are for anyone who wants to be involved. Though misinformation is harmful, and there needs to be a system in place to prevent fake news from spreading, it shouldn’t be the focus of what social media has done to politics. Social media is leveling the playing field and bringing marginalized groups into the conversation.