Blog #9-EOTO Terms

     Social media has changed a lot since it first started. Initially, it was mainly a place for people to share fun photos from vacations or family gatherings and many people would just like and comment on the post. Now, it has become a vital platform for social and political engagement, largely thanks to online influencer. These influencers, who have huge followings on platforms like instagram, TikTok, and twitter, now use their reach to raise awareness about significant political issues. They’re encouraging their followers to get involved in elections and make meaningful changes in their communities. This shift is especially important now, as Andri Silberschmidt, a member of the Swiss National Council, pointed out; the pandemic drew attention to just how deeply politics can affect our everyday lives. 

One of the great things about influencers is their ability to connect with younger voters. They frame political messages in ways that feel personal and relatable, which is something traditional media often struggles to do. This connection makes discussions about social issues more engaging and easier to understand. Influencers dive into topics matter, helping them participate in elections. When influencers share their opinions and start conversations, they create a sense of community around shared beliefs, which can empower their followers to voice their thoughts and take action.

However, this comes with serious consequences regarding misinformation. Research from psu.edu highlights a worrying trend: when influencers share misleading or false political information to grab attention it can significantly distort how the public understands these issues. This spread of inaccurate information can cause political parties to lower down their policies to attract more voter leading to a more polarized society where people views are sharply divided. Social media yields to younger audiences who are often more engaged with digital trends and content. This creates an environment where people can have their own opinion and it can be negative sometimes because of how they respond it on their platform. As influencers can share their own beliefs, which can resonate with their audience but also have views. It’s very dangerous because many young people tend to accept the information presented to them without making them vulnerable to misinformation. While online influencers have the power to encourage civic engagement and have important discussions about democracy, they also risk spreading false information due to the lack of clear regulations governing political content on social media. This absence allows influencers to post anything they wish potentially misleading their followers and complicating the landscape of public opinion. Overall, while social media can be a tool for positive change it also presents significant challenges that must be addressed to ensure that information shared online is both accurate and responsible. 

The unregulated nature of social media complicates the relationship between political discussions and how audiences, especially young people receive these issues. With influencers often blurring the lines between genuine information and misinformation it’s become increasingly clear just how important media literacy is in today’s digital age. For students like us, it’s vital to learn how to navigate this cluttered landscape of political information online. If we develop string critical thinking skills we can empower ourselves to form our Own informed opinions rather than relying solely in the sometimes biased perspectives of influencers of information we see on social media. Engaging with this content means questioning the sources, checking facts, and recognizing when information might be misleading. As we continue to interact with social media especially with social media influencer talking about politics we must remain aware of it power they have to change someone’s opinion on who to vote for. By becoming conscientious consumers of information we can ensure that we make choices and contribute positively to discussions about political matters having a more engaged and informed community.