In a time where the majority of people use several different social media platforms, it is a natural consequence that politicians would use social media as a way to engage with potential voters. Social media has become a tool used in engaging young people in political discussion.
Perhaps as a political science student, I have a bias in regards to the value of engaging in political discussion. But, I feel it is imperative people of all ages use whatever tools and platforms available to engage in such discussion. According to statistics, I may be alone in this belief.
In a study by the Pew Research Center, one-in-five social media users enjoy seeing a lot of political content, but 37 per cent say they are worn out by political discussions on these platforms. Users who make their own political posts are extremely likely to enjoy viewing others’ political posts, whereas those who post little to no political content are that much more likely to find other’s content annoying or unnecessary.
For those who do engage in political discussion on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms, politics can quickly become polarizing. With the recent political climate in the United States, posts about Trump and Clinton were increasingly hateful and nasty. This polarizing level of hatred could be perpetuated by a concept called “mirroring.”
Social media users tend to “like” pages and “friend” other users with similar political beliefs. When we are engaged with political content on social media, it then mirrors our own thoughts, and we are very rarely forced to confront beliefs different from our own. When people are confronted with pages and people with different beliefs, they tend to react harshly.
Although social media, generally, can be a platform for hateful comments, it has also become a part of our day-to-day lives. Shallow and biased news, however, is what tends to flood our social media feeds. If you wish to keep up with the Kardashians, you have every right to do so. However, you should also follow your local politicians and news stations.
Everyone enjoys seeing photos of friends and family, cute animal videos, and the latest memes, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when the average person spends anywhere from two to nine hours on social media a day, according to a recent CNN report, we should use some of this time to engage in social and political issues.
It is incredibly important to be able to form well-rounded and well-informed opinions about political issues locally and globally, and it is only logical we use the tool of social media to do so. When I comment on Facebook friends’ political posts, it is not with the intent to further polarize an issue, but rather with the intent to create important dialogue and debate.
While many seem to believe it is obnoxious to engage in political discussion on social media, I feel it is an integral part of being an active, political citizen.
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
