Literature Review: Resource Synthesis

Search Strategy 

A comprehensive search strategy was developed for a number of databases and search engines, including Google Scholar. The CASP checklist was used to test the validity and credibility of the sources. This tool helps ensure that only valid and credible research articles are used for the literature review. The literature search was also restricted to research studies developed within the last six years. Literature preceding 2014 was ignored. During the literature search, keywords were selected carefully. The primary keywords that were used during the literature search were “social media,” “social networking sites (SNSs),” “political events,” and “political narratives.” The word “social media” and “social networking sites” or “SNSs” were used interchangeably so as not to miss out on literature that used the word social networking sites or SNSs. In addition, Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were used interchangeably during the literature search. The use of these two Boolean operators depended on the need to expand or narrow down the search area. The strategies mentioned above helped locate valid and credible resources. 

Issues Raised by Literature 

Before delving into reviewing how social media use current events to further political narratives, it is vital to establish a theoretical framework to explain the bindings and workings of social systems. One theory that can be used to explain the bindings and working of social systems is the structuration theory. Anthony Giddens created this theory in 1984 (Housh, 2018). This theory holds that societal structure is a set of codes of behaviour and knowledge. According to Giddens, these codes of behaviour and knowledge influence the behaviour of a person or collectives (Housh, 2018). According to the structuration theory, social action is the product of social resources. This theory applies well to the study of social media, dissemination of fake news, and political narratives. Social actions, which include how social networking sites (SNSs) are utilized, affect the societal structure as well as how power is utilized. 

The advent of technology led to the development of SNSs. These SNSs created a new paradigm in the way individuals absorb and disseminate information or share news. SNSs, which include Facebook and Twitter, allow people to access, generate, share and interact with news or other information available online in real-time (Housh, 2018). Over the last few years, SNSs have emerged as change agents, networking for facilitating political campaigns or networks for promoting political participation. Social media is a vital tool. It widely used nowadays to create social change. This is because of its large user base. With its large user base coupled with high integration, social media can have a significant impact on society. It can be a hazardous forum due to the fact that it can be used to disseminate misinformation or fake news to further political narratives and cause social discord (Housh, 2018). 

The term “fake news” entered the public consciousness in recent years. More specifically, it emerged in 2016 during the U.S. presidential election. In 2016, social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, was used to disseminate fake news to further political narratives. People disseminate fake news or misinformation for several reasons, such as to deceive people, for profit, and to show discontent. From a political perspective, people, especially politicians and their followers, disseminate misinformation to further political narrative or show alternative political opinions. 

Spread of fake news or misinformation over SNSs, particularly Facebook and Twitter, has been well documented (Curry, 2018; Kreiss, 2016). Many studies stress that if it were not for the use of social media, especially Facebook, to create and share fake news, the results of the 2016 U.S. elections would have been different. This is because during the campaign politicians used social media to create and share fake news stories (Curry, 2018; Kreiss, 2016). Stories coming from traditional and professional journalism were not widely shared. According to Allcott and Gentzkow (2017), most of the misinformation that was created and shared on social media favoured Donald Trump over his opponents, especially Hillary Clinton. 

Due to a lack of media gatekeeping, people create and share fake news or disseminate misinformation. This can have a significant effect on society. Fake news and misinformation instil netizens with inaccurate beliefs and events (Levendusky & Malhotra, 2016). According to Levendusky & Malhotra (2016), over time, these inaccurate beliefs are polarized and cemented. This lessens the chance of finding the ability to participate in political dialogue. As such, politicians can use this opportunity of using social media to disseminate misinformation or fake news to further political narratives. 

Political participation of netizens on social media is robust during elections. During the political campaign, politicians often use social media to connect with the public ( Gil de Zúñiga & Chen, 2019) . In addition, politicians use social media during elections to keep their followers on social media updated not only about their agenda but also about their political activities. McLaughlin & Velez (2019) conducted a study to determine how politicians use social media to further political narratives during political campaigns. The researcher found that posts that promote a certain politician or political affiliation often increases the chances of the political party or individual winning an election. This is because it increases a party’s or an individual’s political participation. 

Barrack Obama utilized social media during his political campaign in 2012 (Bimber, 2014). According to Bimber (2014), Barrack Obama used SNSs, particularly Facebook, to promote his political campaign. Using Facebook, Obama conducted an online political campaign to highlight his personality. This strategy helped him win the elections. This is because it motivated his followers to act. From this study, it is evident that politicians use social media during political campaigns to further their political narratives. 

In addition to political campaigns, there are several other events that politicians are using to further their political narrative on social media. The most recent one is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Many politicians are using the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to solely promote their views or further their political narratives as well as attack their oppositions. President Trump stands at the epicentre of the ongoing political haranguing. The twitter world erupted following President Trump’s handling of Covid-19. Governments are using the pandemic to wage propaganda wars. More specifically, governments, media, and netizens are using the disease to spread conspiracy theories and attack their government or other government on social media. 

In addition to political campaigns and Covid-19, politicians are also using the “Black Lives Matter” movement to further their political narratives on social media (Housh, 2018). In recent years, there have been protests in the United States due to the mistreatments of African Americans by law enforcement officers. Over the last few months, Americans held protests following the killing of George Floyd, an African American, in police custody. “Black Lives Matter” movement is a movement that stands against white supremacy. According to Housh (2018), this movement is vocal of aggressions committed against persons of color. Some politicians use this movement to further their political narratives on social media. The politicians use SNSs, especially Twitter and Facebook, to infuriate and inflame conservative audiences (Housh, 2018). From the literature synthesis, it is evident that politicians use current events to further their political narratives on social media. 

Summary of Literature 

This paper reviewed how netizens use current events to further political narratives. The structuration theory developed by Giddens was used to establish the theoretical framework for this capstone project. The structuration theory holds that social actions, which include how social networking sites (SNSs) are utilized, affect the societal structure as well as how power is utilized. Research studies document that politicians use current events to further their political narratives on social media. These events include political campaigns, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement. 

References 

Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election.  Journal of economic perspectives ,  31 (2), 211-36. 

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. 

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. 

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/ 

Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Chen, H. T. (2019). Digital Media and Politics: Effects of the Great Information and Communication Divides. 

Housh, A. M. (2018). Fake News, Political Narrative, & Social Media: A Structuration Approach. 

Johnson, B. G., & Kelling, K. (2018). Placing Facebook: “Trending,”“Napalm Girl,”“fake news” and journalistic boundary work.  Journalism Practice ,  12 (7), 817-833. 

Levendusky, M., & Malhotra, N. (2016). Does media coverage of partisan polarization affect political attitudes?.  Political Communication ,  33 (2), 283-301. 

Kreiss, D. (2016). Seizing the moment: The presidential campaigns’ use of Twitter during the 2012 electoral cycle.  New media & society ,  18 (8), 1473-1490. 

McLaughlin, B., & Velez, J. A. (2019). Imagined politics: How different media platforms transport citizens into political narratives.  Social Science Computer Review ,  37 (1), 22-37.