The power of social media to shape public opinion is undeniable. From politicians to marketers, brands, companies, and individuals, these platforms have become a powerful tool for achieving objectives. But with the rapid dissemination of information comes a growing sense of exhaustion among Americans who use social media. As the world continues to evolve and experts search for faster and more accessible ways to communicate, it's possible that a new form of communication could replace or even further influence public opinion. This represents a general orientation towards the topic of social media and its impact on public opinion.
Many users attribute changes in their views on political or social issues to something they saw on social networks. Countries have even gone so far as to block radar systems and use electronic tools for spying and eavesdropping, according to Mustafa. Social media is simply the most modern tool used in current electronic wars. Rahman believes that there will never be any international control governing social media sites due to the lack of an international judicial authority that could issue dissuasive sentences and an executive authority that could implement these provisions. The media and social networks can also affirm latent attitudes and “activate” them, prompting people to act.
Smaller actions promote social networks as a place where marginalized people and groups have a voice (8%) and as a place for activism and social movements (7%). The Pew Research Center conducted a study to understand how Americans think about the impact of social media on the current state of the country. About half of Democrats and Independents who lean toward the Democratic Party (53%) say that social media has a very negative effect on the way things are going in the country today, compared to 78% of Republicans and like-minded people who say the same. Rumors spread through social media accounts can create confusion and division in society.
For example, 15% of people aged 18 to 29 say that social networks have a mostly positive effect on the way things are going in the country today, while only 8% of people over 30 say the same. Social networks have also provided an opportunity for social movements to promote their ideas in a rational way. Opinions about the negative impact of social media vary only slightly between users (63%) and non-users (69%), with non-users being slightly more likely to say that these sites have a negative effect.
