The impact of social media on political participation

Abstract

It is yet unclear how the rise of social media has affected people's desire to becoming politically active. On the one hand, there is a growing number of opportunities for people to interact with like-minded others, express their opinions, and take part in political movements through social media. Social media has the potential to magnify political messaging and facilitate political mobilisation on a scale and velocity never seen before. On the other hand, people could become trapped in echo chambers and filter bubbles on social media, where they only see content that supports their previous political views. Due to the anonymity and lack of accountability on
social media, harmful language and misinformation may easily spread. This, in turn, can deter people from getting involved in politics and undermine trust in democratic institutions. Whether social media actually promotes enhance political involvement and democratic engagement depends on user behaviour, platform design, and the wider social and political climate. Further research on these factors is required, along with studies into ways to mitigate the negative effects of social media on political participation.