Social Media vs. Democracy
Social media has always played a vile role in our everyday lives. As the world continues to transition into modern times, technology has advanced and increased how much we depend on these newfound machines. Social media was originally created to make communication easier. In the hopes of transforming telegrams into a digital text message through what we call iMessage or through our Instagram direct messages presently. Today we use social media not only for communicating with long-distance friends and family but for the expansion of businesses and raising awareness. We spend so much time scrolling through social sites, today’s generation couldn’t survive without some sort of technology with internet access. People would risk not being up to date or having the knowledge of politics like we do today, due to the use of easy access. Social media allows us to be more aware of what’s occurring on a daily basis, thanks to AppleNews, subscriptions to The New York Times, along other news websites. In the times of newspapers, people depended on the daily prints to hear what was going on in the world. Unlike today, with social media, we hear about political news on live streams through broadcasting or news articles released ten minutes after. Communities on social sites such as Instagram and Twitter are used to spread awareness on topics that certain organizations are trying to twist and turn to refrain from the public knowing the truth. Take for example racism. For decades people of color have been silenced by the police and families killed without explanation leaving the black community feeling inferior. Racism will happen anywhere you go in the world, however, that doesn’t mean you should let it slide. Social media allows voices to be unfiltered and express opinions that can be shared with just the tap of a button. It also influences activists to create a platform to raise awareness to others about various current issues. The Maryville
University’s blog on Social Media and Activism in the Digital Age, speaks on how social media positively promotes political awareness. What started out as a hashtag, #blacklivesmatter was created from a letter written to people of color, after the killing of Trayvon Martin. The hashtag had spread like wildfire which led to an online organization forming to create protests, speeches, and national discussions. In return, the news started to report stories on these events which not only brought nations together to support an important cause but people from younger age groups were granted the opportunity to become more educated on political events and speak up.Conspiracy theories come from the brainless insecure people behind a screen. The type of person who feeds on negative attention to cause an uproar for no actual reason. Only to see communities fight over fake news bringing barriers into relationships with disagreements on beliefs. People who are unaware of the truth click on these websites hoping to educate themselves on a topic, just as the next person is curious to educate themselves. However, when doing research you have to also do your research. The internet is a place spiraled with opinions and facts. In school, we are taught to base our facts on websites ending with “org, edu, or credible sources such as real-world unbiased news companies.” The creators behind credible websites are professional researchers, scientists, and doctors. The fake websites often referred to as Yellow Journalism, are written by opinionated angry bloggers with way too much time on their hands.Take for example the 2020 COVID-19 situation about the new vaccines. So much misleading information was spread across social media platforms, from youtube to WhatsApp talking about all of the cons to the vaccines. However today, with the vast majority getting vaccinated today, we became one step closer to ending this pandemic. As videos and blogs were created, I remember my aunt sending me a video about it which led to a twenty-minute lecture about staying inside,
steaming my face every morning, and drinking lemon and hot water to strengthen my immune system. Compared to the present, the COVID vaccine saving her life is all she can talk about.Researchers upload credible sources through the information icon when you search for COVID and how to prevent attracting it. Statistics were recorded from people who had taken the vaccine and the after-effects on different individuals. Websites such as the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offer this type of information based on real evidence from reliable resources. They provide links to why the Covid vaccines are now safe for children ages five and older, along with with updated news on the newly talked about variants of COVID being found. The CDC educates their audiences on what exactly is a variant, how to build protection, and what your immune system will look like after becoming vaccinated. Authentic websites such as the CDC are here to educate the world on the right thing, everything based on facts. It proves the biased opinions wrong with scientific facts to make both online and real-world communities safe by spreading the right information.Some may argue that while social media has it’s pros, it is not entirely perfect. Our timelines are based on what we like and who we follow. This is called a filter bubble. Instagram suggests other accounts related to what we repost on our stories, only to keep us in our comfort zone of things we heart. Which might be quotes or celebrities we follow. Our algorithms are the same variation as we create them to be. If you like a famous dog’s picture, the next time you open Instagram, pictures of dogs will consume your explore page. It’s funny how it’s called explore, yet there is no adventure to seek out. “How to stop Misinformation on Social Media” by Lily Datzfrom Syracuse University mentions something similar. A sentence of “ Liberals get even more extreme in their liberalism, and conservatives get more conservative.” This type of stimulation creates a sense of isolation and encourages us to stay in our comfort zone. Filter bubbles create our
internet algorithm based on previous questions or searches entered into google for example. Which brings me to the question of, What type of awareness or openness does social media really benefit me? How is social media useful to me besides entertainment purposes?How is social media beneficial you may ask? Although the vast majority of young teenagers use the application TikTok for entertainment purposes, it goes far beyond that. Young minds create careers, organizations, and provide safe spaces for thousands of people across the nation. TikTok is shaping politics, exposing politicians from their undermining secrets, spreading awareness, and creating platforms to educate people on what the educational system fails to teach.The textbooks we use today don’t provide the actual events that occurred in history, merely the“kid-friendly” paraphrased version. Despite the creation of filter bubbles, social media is still a prime key in spreading awareness and educating young minds besides the overwhelming years of math the education system has failed to properly educate.Users are responsible for choosing their future knowledge and what they choose to believe.Every year 1.35 million people die because of cars. Does that mean cars are to blame? In most cases, it is due to human error. Just like cars are simply tools to make life easier, so is social media.With every new invention, there are bound to be consequences due to the negligence of people.Social media is a creation of cyberspace open to anyone who makes an account. A paradox is full of information given out to the world. It is the people who choose to properly educate themselves and to choose what they believe in. Social media does more good than harm to our democracy.
Sources:
1. 08, Our readersFebruary, et al. “What Role Does Social Media Play in Your Life?”America Magazine, 8 Feb. 2019,https://www.americamagazine.org/magazine/2019/02/08/what-role-does-social-media-play-your-life.2. “Social Media as Activism and Social Justice.” Maryville Online, 11 June 2020,https://online.maryville.edu/blog/a-guide-to-social-media-activism/.3. “How to Stop Misinformation on Social Media.” SU News, 5 Oct. 2021,https://news.syr.edu/blog/2021/10/05/how-to-stop-misinformation-on-social-media/.“Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention,https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20vaccines%20are,monitoring%20in%20US%20history.
