Democracy and Social Media

During the late 20^th century, the world changed in all aspects due to different kinds of revolutions in all sectors. Democracy is one of the signal trends in world politics that has drastically changed and spread worldwide. In addition, people have become more aware of and interested in the new use of digital technologies in different movements for political change. The technologies provided more individuals with information and the resources they needed to increase communication and participation compared to the past. As a result, new digital technologies such as social media increased the number of individuals who significantly contributed to the spread of democracy. Therefore, has social media contributed to the change in democracy, and how can citizens use digital technologies to participate in different political processes that reflect democracy?

Democracy entails the change to a government in which power belongs to the people and is exercised by them either directly or indirectly through different processes, such as participating in elections. In the late 20^th century, democracy focused on changing from authoritarian regimes to having more nations adopt liberal democracies. The change in the rule of law resulted from globalization and the end of the Cold War.[1] For instance, the end of the USSR meant that the Soviets could not support communist dictatorships. Therefore, ending the brutal military rule and ensuring power belonged to the people was easy. [2]

However, to ensure there was change, the citizens rising against the governments have adopted different strategies, such as using digital media sources. Even though the internet is not considered the first technology to amplify freedom, it has revolutionized what democracy is all about. [3]Previously, citizens used telegraphs, printing presses, and radios to express their concerns and address their oppressors. Still, the internet is more effective because it is personalized and allows users to share their experiences. As a result, digital technologies and applications are changing how people, the government and non-governmental organizations relate and interact, thus changing the democratic landscape.[4]

Social movements perpetuated by social media are characterized by segmentation, meaning they involve small structures contributing to the movement. Thus, through such structures, it becomes easy to help people campaign for social change, a familiar formula for democratization. One of the ways that social media has contributed to democracy is through election campaigning. Social media has been a central platform for candidates to change the known physical rallies and poster strategy in political campaigning. [5]For example, candidates can now use social networks like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp to communicate. As a result, people get to participate in the election process by reading party manifestos and supporting different candidates.

In conclusion, in the late 20^th century, they were led to the rise of democracy, one of the ways many nations adopted liberal democracy. However, this could be attributed to the existence of digital technologies, particularly the internet. Through the internet, social media has revolutionized the existence of democracy. For example, social media has allowed citizens to have a voice to air their issues and shape the conversations on critical democratic processes such as political discussions and elections. Lastly, social media has an element that can not be ignored when talking about democracy.

Bibliography

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTtrqhwSz60&pp=ygUpZG9jdW1lbnRhcnkgb24gc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIGFuZCBkZW1vY3JhY3k%3D

Lorenz-Spreen, Philipp, Lisa Oswald, Stephan Lewandowsky, and Ralph Hertwig. “Digital media and democracy: a systematic review of causal and correlational evidence worldwide.” Preprint at SocArXiv https://doi. org/10.31235/osf. Io/p3z9v (2021).

Mazepa, Patricia. “Democracy of, in and through communication: struggles around public service in Canada in the first half of the twentieth century.” info 9, no. 2/3 (2007): 45-56.

McNeill, John Robert. Webs of Humankind: A World History with Ebook, InQuizitive, History Skills Tutorials, Map and Primary Source Exercises, and Student Site One-Volume. WW Norton & Company, 2020.

Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World, A Brief Global History, Volume I: To 1500. Vol. 1. Macmillan Higher Education, 2012.

[1] McNeill, John Robert. Webs of Humankind: A World History with Ebook, InQuizitive, History Skills Tutorials, Map and Primary Source Exercises, and Student Site One-Volume. WW Norton & Company, 2020.

[2] Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World, A Brief Global History, Volume I: To 1500. Vol. 1. Macmillan Higher Education, 2012.

[3] Lorenz-Spreen, Philipp, Lisa Oswald, Stephan Lewandowsky, and Ralph Hertwig. “Digital media and democracy: a systematic review of causal and correlational evidence worldwide.” Preprint at SocArXiv https://doi. org/10.31235/osf. Io/p3z9v (2021).

[4] Mazepa, Patricia. “Democracy of, in and through communication: struggles around public service in Canada in the first half of the twentieth century.” info 9, no. 2/3 (2007): 45-56.

[5]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTtrqhwSz60&pp=ygUpZG9jdW1lbnRhcnkgb24gc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIGFuZCBkZW1vY3JhY3k%3D