How much do you think would social media affect your country's elections?

[UconBit]

So many countries claim that social media affect their elections a lot. This can easily be seen in the widespread propaganda / ads / news that we get on our newsfeed whenever an election is coming up. However, there are also a lot of issues with privacy and fake news nowadays that a lot of people have stopped using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. I, for one, believe that it will be a driving force for people to vote.
Just a simple example would be Taylor Swift's post that she is voting Democrat. Within 24hrs tens of thousands registered to vote. You would most probably find it idiotic but that is the world we live in and no matter how much people dismiss it, people are voting based on influencers like her.

[SnowAugustine]

Facebook and Twitter with its millions of subscribers would definitely be a place to push political ads and propaganda to. The reach is really high and the ads are not really that expensive. You will get real time insights so it's a really great place to put on ads. You can directly read the people's reactions on everything you post. How the politicians would use the data will be key to their winning.

[Direwolve735]

During the pre-election period, social networks become not only a translator of the ideas of candidates and parties, thus influencing electoral ratings. They are a platform for non-professional political discourse where all relevant news is discussed. In the era of fakes and post-truth, a war of bots begins in social networks, which are artificially intruded into existing discourses and send them to the right (for the customer) direction. Thus, the manipulation of electoral preferences occurs not only from outside (with the help of print media, television and radio resources), but also from within - in direct communication with voters.

[Michael_Cox]

Based on the last election? Not much or the election would've turned the other way around. This year? Who knows. Maybe people have learned from their mistakes. Social media can only do so much. At the end of the day the decision to vote still lies on the people and no amount of social media can influence them who to vote, let alone to even go out and vote.

[rohitkaira]

I think social media is more powerful than ever and you can look at last general elections in India, political parties hired hundreds of social media campaigners to improve their vote count and for run up to the next general elections political parties and politicians are using more and more social media tools to spread fake news and propaganda to influence votes. Tragedy is that 95% information on social media is not correct and majority of people around 95% dont even bother to check the accuracy of the information and share with others without knowing the actual impact , social media is doing more bad than good for general public.

[Ngoziwealth]

Taking a cue from what has happened in the past in my country, I quite agree that the social  media's influence will definitely affect my country's up coming elections. All a politician needs to fail is to underestimate the power of the social media. Those who know its power use it to their own advantage.

Today we have billions of people using these platforms than any Television or Radio station can boast off, the influence reaches far and wide and whatever is put there is documented for life.  We are also aware that a lot of falsehood is being put out there, this means an evil politician can literally be transformed into a saint through the use of influencers and cheap publicity on social media.

[SnowAugustine]

Taking a cue from what has happened in the past in my country, I quite agree that the social  media's influence will definitely affect my country's up coming elections. All a politician needs to fail is to underestimate the power of the social media. Those who know its power use it to their own advantage.

Where are you from? And how did social media affect the results of your country's elections? Were your politicians very active in social media? Did they spend propaganda on it or they just posted their projects? How did the citizens of your country reacted in social media when they see posts like that from their politicians?

[xiaosaenz]

The power of traditional media has always been used to enhance or manipulate politics. Social media is just a new medium that politicians and journalists are using to their advantage. You can see how social channels have given people the chance to be more vocal on their opinions by simply taking a look at your facebook during an election period...

[jossiel]

That's the sad reality that when an influencer gives her/his opinion, his/her followers would do as they say.

But social media also helps to expose those things that are being hidden by the mainstream media about a candidate's shady deeds. Well, you can pay the medias by not reporting a news or by having a presscon to gain exposure. In social media, you just pay for ads to boost that post and thousands of users will be reached.

[jossiel]

That's the sad reality that when an influencer gives her/his opinion, his/her followers would do as they say.

I won't say that one person, even a very famous one, can seriously affect in some way.
It's a matter of quantity but not in quality. When you're bombed from all over the Internet even a person who knows about the current methods of working with people will think for a moment.

Famous one would do really change the way their followers decide.

They can distort every situation though its not appropriate anymore. This what happens in our country especially in politics. Though its a bad thing IMO but there are still numbers of people that are learning from this situation and won't buy and let themselves influenced by their idols.

[Sealis]

A bloody lot id say. I barely know any candidates for the elections in my country but ever since the elections got near and id often scroll on facebook, man all id see other than memes would be faces of candidates.

[IndeecV]

Want an interesting fact? In Russia, if a well-known video blogger participates in an advertising election, then he is drowning in dizlikek. If the advertisement is hidden, then everything gets worse. In fact, there is a risk to destroy your YouTube channel.
I think this reflects our resistance to political propaganda.
On the other hand, everyone has the right to express his opinion if it is not purchased.

[Jaycee99]

So many countries claim that social media affect their elections a lot. This can easily be seen in the widespread propaganda / ads / news that we get on our newsfeed whenever an election is coming up. However, there are also a lot of issues with privacy and fake news nowadays that a lot of people have stopped using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. I, for one, believe that it will be a driving force for people to vote.
Just a simple example would be Taylor Swift's post that she is voting Democrat. Within 24hrs tens of thousands registered to vote. You would most probably find it idiotic but that is the world we live in and no matter how much people dismiss it, people are voting based on influencers like her.

To see that Social media has the best impact in every field of advertising like Comercial, products  of some sort and news as well as the elections it can help people to seek or find what they need to see to help them decided what should they do. People seeing what they need to see what they need to vote or rather who they need to vote.

In short in every reply or post advertising or rather spreading news in any kind of way like TV and videos from the Internet the youtube, it can effect peoples decision.

[BQ]

something I've never quite understood with the democratic model is that, doesn't people have their "core values"?
how can people be influenced simply by slogans and celebrities? (on social medi).
it's a very flawed system in some way.

[subSTRATA]

something I've never quite understood with the democratic model is that, doesn't people have their "core values"?
how can people be influenced simply by slogans and celebrities? (on social medi).
it's a very flawed system in some way.

it's not a system, it's a culture. in the states, at least, I've seen that most people tend to not think for themselves when it comes to political views or decisions, but would rather let themselves be influenced by what they're exposed to, ie social media. in addition, America tends to glorify its celebrities a bit, and the fans who idolize them tend to have their political views align with that of their idols. I would very much like it if more people gave real thought to their views and whatnot, but it seems most would rather choose their views based on external influences over giving their stance on issues extensive thought.

[BQ]

something I've never quite understood with the democratic model is that, doesn't people have their "core values"?
how can people be influenced simply by slogans and celebrities? (on social medi).
it's a very flawed system in some way.

it's not a system, it's a culture. in the states, at least, I've seen that most people tend to not think for themselves when it comes to political views or decisions, but would rather let themselves be influenced by what they're exposed to, ie social media. in addition, America tends to glorify its celebrities a bit, and the fans who idolize them tend to have their political views align with that of their idols. I would very much like it if more people gave real thought to their views and whatnot, but it seems most would rather choose their views based on external influences over giving their stance on issues extensive thought.

you're right in what you say, but in some way it's always been a problem I guess. hitler was a great speaker and he surely convinced lots of people.
but ultimately it seems in some way that it's not right, if it's all about how it's presented. people should know what they want and parties should be presented factually..
I think so atleast. but either way today's social media political influencers isn't far from what was in the past, just evolved with society.

[ClockworkTrader]

No doubt there is certainly social media`s influence in every country`s elections. After all, election campaign, the main election tool, is based on media forming people`s opinion regarding the way they should vote.

[Becksinsky]

something I've never quite understood with the democratic model is that, doesn't people have their "core values"?
how can people be influenced simply by slogans and celebrities? (on social medi).
it's a very flawed system in some way.

The fact is that the media perfectly mastered the art of manipulation of man. And this is a very serious weapon against us.
The person is not perfect, many people with an immature psyche, especially among young people, and they are very easy to manipulate.
In general, it is much easier to manipulate us than we think.
The only weapon against this is constant self-education and self-control. But unfortunately, most do not think about it. Therefore, there will always be masses that can be manipulated. Especially nowadays, when people greedily absorb any information.

[Blanca_Gregory]

Apparently, not that much. Just look at the last US elections. Celebrities and people who we thought have huge influence on people failed to spread the word because Trump still ended up being elected. So idk if it will still make a difference this year, but the social media is a nice platform to get people to talk and take action.

[MathiasCrow]

Apparently, not that much. Just look at the last US elections. Celebrities and people who we thought have huge influence on people failed to spread the word because Trump still ended up being elected.

Agreed here. It seems like in the long run social media is losing control over people`s opinions. The question is why people decided that electing Trump was a good idea is still open, though.