What is Facebook doing to our politics? ✓ Solved

Write an argumentative essay in which you explain the effect Facebook has on our politics, that is, how Facebook may or may not be influencing the outcome of our political elections. Hint: DO NOT MAKE this a paper about the good and bad side of Facebook. You must focus on how the social media giant influences our culture, and ultimately influences our politics which has a direct effect on the quality of our lives.

Research Requirements: You must include 3 researched library sources: books, articles (newspaper and scholarly), online databases within the library system, research data within the library system ONLY. They cannot be unsubstantiated internet websites, encyclopedias, classroom textbooks, pamphlets, bibles, or dictionaries.

You may use the reading selections as support, but these WILL ALSO NOT be counted as research sources. MLA Documentation: You must use MLA documentation which consists of in-text citations and a works cited page. Incorrect usage or failure to use may result in a deduction of up to 5 points.

Format Requirements: Title 3rd person only MLA format Structural Correctness - Intro-Thesis-Well Developed Body-Conclusion 1-inch margins – top and bottom-right-left Times New Roman typeface – 12 point.

Paper For Above Instructions

Facebook stands as one of the most powerful social media platforms globally, influencing myriad aspects of daily life, especially politics. In the wake of unprecedented levels of political polarization, Facebook has emerged as a peculiar player in shaping public discourse and policy outcomes. In this argumentative essay, I will explore the multifaceted influence of Facebook on the political landscape of the United States, arguing that it serves as a catalyst for political division, misinformation, and targeted political advertising, which culminates in a significant impact on election outcomes.

To begin, it is crucial to grasp the scale of Facebook's reach. As of 2021, Facebook boasted over 2.8 billion monthly active users globally (Statista, 2021). This vast user base is an unprecedented gathering of potential voters and political participants. Facebook's algorithm promotes content based on user interaction, which often amplifies sensationalist and divisive political messages. The algorithmic bias toward engagement over accuracy can create echo chambers, wherein users are only exposed to viewpoints that resonate with their beliefs, deepening political polarization (Pariser, 2011).

A seminal work by Tufekci (2017) posits that social media platforms like Facebook do not merely reflect societal discourse but actively shape it. Particularly during election cycles, Facebook provides a platform for political actors to disseminate messages tailored to specific demographics through sophisticated data analytics. Targeted advertising allows campaigns to communicate with voters based on their preferences and behaviors, ensuring that certain narratives are amplified while others are drowned out. This targeted approach can skew democratic engagement, leading to a more fragmented political landscape where consensus becomes increasingly difficult to achieve.

The ramifications of this targeted political advertising are evident in significant political events, such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Investigations have revealed that Russian operatives exploited Facebook to spread misinformation and create divisive content aimed at swaying voter allegiance (Mueller, 2019). From this incident, it becomes clear that Facebook's architecture allows for the manipulation of public opinion, emphasizing the idea that social media platforms can act as vectors for foreign influence in domestic elections.

Moreover, misinformation proliferates rapidly on Facebook, often outpacing fact-checking efforts. The viral nature of social media means false narratives can gain traction before they are corrected. A study by Vosoughi, Roy, and Aral (2018) indicates that false news spreads significantly faster than true stories on social networks. This rapid dissemination contributes to a heavily misinformed electorate, which can ultimately skew election outcomes. Voters who believe in falsehoods are less likely to make informed decisions, further complicating the democratic process.

Another dimension of Facebook's influence pertains to its role in shaping political engagement among younger voters. While social media platforms can facilitate political participation, they may also trivialize serious discourse. The "like" and share functionalities can promote superficial engagement over thoughtful analysis. Young voters, who predominantly use Facebook for social interaction, may integrate political information into their digital lives in a way that is detached from the rigorous political engagement necessary for a robust democracy (Litt, 2012). This phenomenon is troubling, as political engagement among younger demographics is vital for sustaining democratic institutions.

Furthermore, Facebook’s policies and practices regarding content moderation add another layer of complexity to its political influence. The platform has been criticized for its inconsistent approach to moderating harmful content, including hate speech and misinformation, which can manipulate public opinion and create a hostile political climate (Ghaffary, 2020). With heightened scrutiny from the public and lawmakers, Facebook faces the challenge of balancing free expression with accountability. The effectiveness of its content moderation strategies is a crucial aspect of addressing its political impact.

To address these multifaceted challenges, it is imperative for both users and policymakers to scrutinize Facebook's influence carefully. Users should foster media literacy to identify misinformation and disparate perspectives actively. Notably, educational initiatives aimed at improving digital literacy must be priorities for academic institutions and civil society alike. As users cultivate critical thinking regarding their media consumption, they can confront the algorithmic biases inherent in platforms like Facebook.

Policymakers also play a vital role in regulating social media practices to ensure that these platforms promote democratic engagement rather than subvert it. Implementing stricter regulations on political advertising, enhancing transparency in data usage, and establishing guidelines for content moderation can mitigate some adverse effects of social media influence. For instance, requiring political ads to disclose their funding sources and target demographics could instill greater accountability and trust in the political process (Zengler, 2020).

In conclusion, Facebook serves as both a reflection and a catalyst of our political environment, drastically influencing the outcomes of elections and the quality of democratic engagement. By facilitating polarization and misinformation while impacting young voters’ engagement, Facebook has proven to be a powerful force in shaping politics. As we navigate these challenges, a concerted effort from individual users, educational institutions, and policymakers will be essential to harness social media’s potential for nurturing democratic values while curtailing its propensity for division and misinformation.

References

• Ghaffary, Shirin. “Facebook is Making it Harder to Find Political Ads.” Vox, 2020.
• Litt, E. M. “Social Media and Young People’s Political Engagement.” The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication, 2012.
• Mueller, Robert S. “Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election.” U.S. Department of Justice, 2019.
• Pariser, Eli. “The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You.” Penguin Press, 2011.
• Statista. “Number of Facebook Users Worldwide from 2017 to 2021.” Statista Research Department, 2021.
• Tufekci, Zeynep. “Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest.” Yale University Press, 2017.
• Vosoughi, Soroush, Roy, David, and Aral, Sinan. “The spread of true and false news online.” Science, 2018.
• Zengler, Todd. “The Need for Social Media Regulation in Political Campaigning.” Journal of Political Marketing, 2020.