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The 2016 United States Presidential Election was an example in which social media was used by the state actor Russia to influence public opinion. Tactics such as propaganda, trolling, and bots were used to leak fake news stories that included an "FBI agent had been killed after leaking Clinton's emails" and "Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump."
Social media caused many controversies during the 2020 election. During the 2020 election, social media was the primary source of the spread of false information. Social media users also faced polarization due to social media algorithms, creating an echo chamber for social media users and only exposing themselves to their own beliefs.
Public opinion has become more varied as a result of online news sources being influenced by political communication and agenda setting. Relationships between mass media and public opinion arise as social media becomes more worldwide. This 2013 study examines the effects mass media has on poverty.
With so many "gates" or outlets, news spreads without the aid of legacy media networks. In fact, users on social media can act as a check to the media, calling attention to bias or inaccurate facts. There is also a symbiotic relationship between social media users and the press: younger journalists use social media to track trending topics. [56]
[7] [8] [9] Social media users may read a set of news that differs slightly from what newspaper editors prioritize in the print press. [10] A 2019 study found that Facebook and Twitter users are more likely to share politics, public affairs, and visual media news. [11] Typically social media users circulate more towards posting about negative news.
Current research shows that "social bots" are being used on a large scale to control the opinion climate to influence public opinion on social media. [33] In some cases only a small number of social bots can easily direct public opinion on social media and trigger a spiral of silence model. [34]
This also helped them create a unique style of communication with the public and build electoral coalitions, which identified voters and, in turn, raised money. As a result, social media ultimately aided in voter mobilization and electoral impact. [68] Social media also became a primary source of news for some demographics.
The use of social media by ISIS and Al-Qaeda has been used to influence public opinion where it operates and gain the attention of sympathizers. Social media platforms and encrypted-messaging applications have been used to recruit members, both locally and internationally. [339] Platforms have endured backlash for allowing this content.