Research Problem
The increase in the use of the Internet and social media has come with its own implications. However, it remains unclear how social media further political narratives rather than informing the public. This capstone project sought to examine how social media use current events to further political narratives rather than inform the public.
Cause and Effect #1
One of the events that contribute to the use of social media to disseminate fake news or misinformation is political campaigns. Political campaigns are one of the factors causing an increase in the use of social media to disseminate misinformation in other to further political narratives. During political campaigns, politicians use social media to disseminate misinformation in order to further their political narratives or show alternative political opinions (Curry, 2018). The misinformation created on social media tends to favor some political candidates over others.
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The use of social media during political campaign significantly affect political outcomes. This is because it helps politicians connect with the public, deceive people, show discontent, and show alternative political opinions. Given that political participation of netizens is robust during political campaigns, this can significantly affect political outcomes. According to Kreiss (2018), the results of the 2016 U.S. elections would have been different if it were not for the use of social media to create and share fake news. In addition, Barrack Obama utilized social media during his political campaigns, a strategy which helped him win the elections (Bimber, 2014).
Cause and Effect #2
Another factor causing the use of social media to disseminate fake news or misinformation to further political narratives is the Covid-19 pandemic. Politicians are using the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to not only further their political narratives but also to attack their opponents (Okolla, 2020). A prime example is President Donald Trump, who is currently at the epicenter of the ongoing political haranguing caused by Covid-19. Netizens are highly criticizing how President Trump is handling Covid-19.
The effect of this is that it causes political wars, propaganda wars, and conspiracy theories. Politicians are using the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to attack their oppositions, creating political wars. In addition, the pandemic has led to propaganda wars and conspiracy theories, which are a result of the fake news created and disseminated on social media (DiResta, 2020). More specifically, the government is using to the Covid-19 pandemic to wage propaganda wars. A prime example is a war between the United States and China, with the U.S. president labeling the coronavirus as “Chinese Virus” (DiResta, 2020).
Cause and Effect #3
The third cause is the Black Lives Matter movement. “Black Lives Matter” movement is a movement that stands against white supremacy. However, some politicians are using this movement to further their political narratives. In fact, they are using to infuriate and inflame conservative audiences (Housh, 2018).
The effect of this is that it is escalating the war against conservative audiences. In addition to using this movement to further their political narrative, politicians and netizens are using this movement to infuriate and inflame conservative audiences (Housh, 2018). This has escalated the war against this group.
Reaction to the Findings and Opinion on whether the Causes could have been prevented
This paper outlined the causes and effects of the research problem outlined in the capstone project. The causes and effects relate to the research problem outlined in the capstone project in the sense they outline the way social media is being used to further political narratives. However, some of the causes outlined in this paper could be prevented. For instance, coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement can be prevented. To prevent the use of the Covid-19 pandemic to disseminate fake news or further political narratives, governments should put measures in place to stop the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories on social media. This would help stop the negative effects that result from this.
With regard to the Black Lives Matter movement, there is a need to stop racial segregation and oppression of people of color. Out of all the three problems that have been identified, the use of political campaigns to further political narratives on social media is the leading problem. This is because politicians use this event to a great extent to further their political narratives.
References
Curry, K. E. (2018). Politics in the Social Media Era: the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Political Participation During the 2016 United States Presidential Election.
Bimber, B. (2014). Digital media in the Obama campaigns of 2008 and 2012: Adaptation to the personalized political communication environment. Journal of information technology & politics , 11 (2), 130-150.
DiResta, R. (2020). For China, the ‘USA Virus’ is a geopolitical ploy. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/chinas-covid-19-conspiracy-theories/609772/
Housh, A. M. (2018). Fake News, Political Narrative, & Social Media: A Structuration Approach.
Kreiss, D. (2016). Seizing the moment: The presidential campaigns’ use of Twitter during the 2012 electoral cycle. New media & society , 18 (8), 1473-1490.
Okolla, D. (2020). The Corona cold war: the battle of media narratives. https://www.theelephant.info/features/2020/04/11/the-corona-cold-war-the-battle-of-media-narratives/
