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The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion 

When it comes to the development of social media and its role on our society, it is quite clear the drastic increase in usage over the past 15 years. Since the development of the first iPhone (in 2007), we have gradually become more and more attached to these devices, and as the years pass, popularity has only seemed to grow. It has gotten to the point where our whole lives lie behind a mere screen, whether that is for organization, work, socializing, listening to music, or playing games. Even the target demographic appears to be changing, as younger children seem to be using phones and other devices more than they were maybe 5 years ago.  


Equally, social media being one of the most talked about functionality of phones and the internet, the effect it has on how we perceive the world is immense. It allows people with all types of worldviews, opinions, origins, and values to share their interpretations of news and pressing issues. Especially seeing as social media’s target audience is quite focused on younger people, (according to studies, the highest percentage of people using social media are between 28-43 years old. (Lin, 2024) However, the most susceptible to influence are more likely to be between 16-23 years old. (Wessinger,2023)) an age bias and concentration of younger generations is quite present in the dynamic across these platforms. This age bias then has a direct correlation on the types of opinions, facts, and events that are exposed with more frequency, causing a clear influence in the way we can see the world through the lens of social media.  

Furthermore, these platform’s intent is to “sell” whatever gets them the most views. The way these systems operate is based on what maintains viewers’ attention, not what is factually correct. Hence, by analyzing the way the algorithm works, we can notice certain flaws that can directly contribute to media bias. The type of content including topics of interest, opinions, and news coverage we will most likely be “fed” is a result of what websites we interact with the most or what types of issues we seem more attracted to. Even the perspective from which we tend to agree with, all these will directly affect the content we see and interact/are exposed to, creating a vicious cycle.  

While marketed as a personalized feed, social media gathers what makes us interested and reflect it back, ensuring our eyes stay on the screen. It almost becomes a type of echo chamber, by interacting with one small topic, we will end up exposed to 20 different ones with similarities to the initial issue.  

But how exactly does this shape public opinions? 

As discussed, social media, due to the way its structure is built, will feed us more often news that we will agree with and political opinions that resonate with our values rather than those that won’t. This leads to an increase in polarization when it comes the information we see online and tends to make us feel as if our opinions are factually backed in comparison, when it might just be that we aren’t being exposed to the data that would put this same view in question.  

However, this isn’t the only way social media can drastically affect public opinion. 

As proven before, “people are prone to changing their beliefs based on what others think, even if they're false.” (Anwar, 2022). This is due to our need as humans to have our opinions and beliefs validated by others. If we feel our opinions are socially accepted by others, it will result in an increase in self-confidence, a greater feeling than to feel rejected by others.  

This means that people are more likely to simply accept opinions that are currently trending even without factually checking the information in order to feel included and part of the discussion.  

Likewise, this poses a tremendous threat as it makes it easier for misinformation to be spread and genuinely believed by many. Furthermore, the problems this causes for political opinions are equally damaging to international politics. 

 “Social media forms a global culture predominantly impacted by Western norms” (“How the Internet Promotes Western Culture - CliffsNotes”, 2024). Hence, when it comes to the types of information that will help shape individuals’ opinions on important global events, such as elections, wars, and conflicts, they will inherently be influenced by what has been turned into the current favored opinion. 

It has become so difficult for individuals to truly form an unbiased opinion as most of us are actively being influenced by what we see on social media platforms. The threat this information bias can cause for our society is sure to drastically change international relations and politics as a whole. How can we, as individuals capable of thinking and forming opinions on our own, be able to form a stance regarding conflicts in the world, if all we see are what is closest to our usual interests. Isn’t the idea of forming a belief towards a topic inherently supposed to create challenging moments where we have to weigh the stakeholders and effects of both sides, rather than being expected to agree with the side that most likely conforms to western culture norms?  

How many times have people formed extremist opinions on topics regarding human rights in war and more due to influence? According to studies (The 2021 IVolunteer report) “by 2016, a total of 87 percent of individuals engaged in political extremism used social media to promote an extremist agenda, up from just 8 percent in 2005.” (“Social Media and Political Extremism | VCU HSEP”, 2023) 

How many more times can this continue to happen before we stop looking at historical and factual data all together, but instead just give in and choose the socially and politically correct standpoint?  

All things considered, our readiness to abdicate our values is so dangerous to the future of our society. Seeing as we have spent our whole lives building our belief continuum, basing these worldviews on our cultural and religious values, our environment, our family history, our experiences, our independent viewpoints of the world around us, our education, amongst many others, how can we so easily forget the most important part of forming informed opinions, reading both sides before concluding.  

It is inevitable that we will continue to see information that aligns more with other opinions on topics, but it is not inevitable that we all work to use social media to our advantage and avoid blindly believing data that we are exposed to.  

This connects then to an important idea, which is the necessity for critical thinking, especially when interacting with platforms as such. 

Especially in a world where the truth can be twisted so easily by editing, or cutting out words, critical thinking is necessary for us to be able to safely use social media as a way to stay informed and use on a daily basis. The media has such a large effect on our society because, more than just feeding into our interests and providing us the content we will enjoy, it does so in ways that we mostly don’t even notice. Because why would we assume that our side of the conflict, our opinions, might be wrong? Evidentially, this search for validation feeds directly into our tendency for bias, because as humans we are flawed and not all knowing. And that is where this danger lies, in our confirmation bias. We all assume that others might suffer from bias and influence through social media, but not us. In the midst of this denial is where the danger lies, and where many of us fall victim of it.  

In conclusion, social media plays an immense role when it comes to shaping public opinion, in more than one aspect. At this point, it has become so highly influential in all decisions and debates regarding global issues, it is actually changing the way we each perceive international relations, political ideologies, and governmental roles. Despite the long list of benefits brought by social media platforms, such as an increase in awareness for many social issues, for example racial injustices, the truth is, social media will always be biased, and there is nothing we can do to avoid it. Hence, and as social media’s popularity continues to increase, we can prepare ourselves for nothing short of the influence it will continue to have on our daily lives, even at the level of global politics and social ideologies such as our identity.  

 

 

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