Social Media Enhances Democracy and Participation - Essay Example

Running head: Social Media Enhances Democracy and Participation Student’s Name Institution Course Professor Date   Social media enhances democracy and participation According to the research done by Castells (2000), not so long ago people did not have effective ways of getting instant happenings around the globe but advances in communication technology and use of internet has dramatically changed the way people around the world consume news. With the way people are getting more and more informed means there are vigorous changes in the media surroundings which definitely plays a major role in political liability in a democratic system (Brian, 2012). The most crucial factor in democracy is the level of awareness among the electorate as that serves the purpose of how well the officials elected are held answerable. It is true that the representatives’ electorate elect are more informed about the policies and conditions than the ordinary citizens hence making it difficult for the citizens to judge or held the government accountable for what it has done and instruct them on what needs to be done, according to Canes, David and John (2002). Even though the elected government representatives have more information than the citizens do, a more educated electorate have the potential to produce superior political liability as compared to less knowledgeable electorate (Diamond and Larry, 2003). The best way to make the electorate more informed is to provide them with information about the elected officials and the government; citizens needs to have more information as much as possible to help them make the right decisions when voting. This is where the social media comes in to rescue. According to David (2002), through election campaigns and news media citizens have been in a position to access more information about their leaders and governments. Research shows that the more a politician is covered by the social or news media it means such a representative is more accountable as compared to his or her constituents because politicians with dirty background do not want to be on the limelight (Dan, 2012). Politician that seem to disregard the partialities of the electorate are more likely to be removed from workplace through elections (Papacharissi and Zizi, 2010). It is really difficult to quantify the volume of information produced by the campaigns and media. Recent technology improvements such as online based news providers, cable channels, amateur journalists, and online databases have become the new birthplaces that provide more information in relation to public affairs. As a result of digital media people around the globe have managed to access more communal affairs information. According to research most traditional media channels that were in existence only in certain regions of the nation or the globe now own websites, and news aggregator unify this pieces of information conveniently (Canes, 2002). Happenings around the world that used to be hard for the interest groups or government to collect can now be collected within a very short period of time due to new technologies; such information include roll call votes, government expenses and public opinion data, such information requires a person with internet access capability to do no more than just a mouse click. Even though there is still a lot of information that needs to be put into use, at least a good percentage of electorate have equipped themselves with more than enough information. Watching television has provided most people with time to learn and about politics hence supporting media as a source of information that enhances democracy (David, 2002). The kind of people who benefit the most out of politics news being aired on daily basis are the people who prefer newscast, educative programs and what happens around the world than entertaining programs and therefore it means more people will come out to vote in their favorite candidates who are fit to rule basing their judgment on how knowledgeable they are. The evolution from the low choice setting to high-quality world of cable connection and also internet connection had a totally different influence on people who choose news over entertainment (Bennett, 2003). For the news junkies to get informed they must make use of information which they now have access to because of digital media and not like in the past when technology was still in its early stages of development. The increased number of voters is as a result of political knowledge distribution which has been done easily through social media. Political Liability and New media According to Arnold and Douglas (2004), the grouping of better accessibility of facts and amounting variation of its consumption might seem like a prototypical case of bad news or good news. In case political liability is coarsely comparative to the whole intake of provided political facts by entire members or associates of voters, then the significance of altering news viewers’ and listeners can conclude whether the bad news overshadows the good news. Arnold (2004) says, even though it is not necessary for every citizen to follow the news to get a comprehensive media reporting, it necessary to be well informed about the happenings in order to ensure elected representatives who are incompetent, wrong-doers, and like shirking are held accountable; it needs an informed electorate to do that. If the representatives know that they are being monitored then at least they will not misuse their office or waste funds that belong to the public; they know that an auditing will be done or sanctioned in case they abuse their offices. Through media, competitions between the people or the candidates who want to be elected may lead to a more real observance because electorate favor candidates who are devoted to transparency (Brian, 2012). As long as a candidate knows that he or she is being monitored, they will not make good use of the information irregularities in their favor. Therefore, a candidate seeking to be reelected for a certain position has a reason to perform according to his or her electorate inclinations even if the electorate do not have complete information about their doings. When re-election candidate is choosing an action, s/he must gauge themselves considering, what would the state of public opinion be in case the consequences of their misdeeds are brought to limelight during election time. Well informed electorate is a very important requirement for democracy and political accountability hence it means there must be a very high level of news or information exposure which media technology has done in a very effective way (Douglas, 2004). According to research news junkies have acquired much information about politics than they were in the past meaning amongst the most engaged electorate politically, the level of information is a very crucial requirement as it strengthens political liability. It has been seen that most of the information about the wrong doings of representatives get to the citizens and not like in the past when leaders could abuse their powers and get away with it (Castells, 2000). The rise in the total news consumption is as a result of improvements in technology such as the introduction of online news. Cable news has been seen to be taking the attention of most news junkies according to the recent study; most people read the online newspapers nowadays and not like in the past when people had no other option but to get the printed newspaper (Castells, 2009). There has been an increase in the number of visitors accessing news websites on daily basis and the number even goes higher when elections are around the corner. In the latest social activities, social networking websites have become the most important tools in existence that promote communications; social sites are the vehicles and communication tools for mobilization. Social assumption of the internet has become one of the crucial fragment of democratization progressions (Diamond and Larry, 2003). This is seen in the way social networking sites such Twitter and Facebook are being used by the citizens and activists to pass important information; how social media does the circulation of news and information is far much better, fast and reliable as compared to how people used to access information during the traditional media era (Arnold, 2004). Through social media people have been able to bypass censorship which might been the most irritating thing in the past where the truth about certain happenings could not be told. It is very true to say that the emergence of new and reliable media technologies, has shaped the way for the development of new arena where public debates takes place. The phenomenon has also been seen to play an important role such as presenting an innovative and fresh ways of allocating talent, effecting change on outstanding scale, uniting various aspiration and spurring mass and instantaneous mobilization. Existence of social media seems to be the perfect way to ensure people get informed about democracy (Brian, 2012). According to the recent research, a move to ensure the relationship between social participation and internet seems to be the right and effective condition that makes sure democracy vitality exist for as long as possible. Internet and democracy The invention of internet which is now the biggest network around the globe, is most important thing in relation to democracy. The role that social media technology plays in promoting democracy is far much important to all nations around the globe. Most of the research that have been carried out show that internet and social media has made possible the spread real time information that come from true and existing advocates of democracy. Despite the fact that social media has proven to be the best way pass information, research shows the vulnerability of social media to censorship, manipulation, and exploitation for propaganda and publicity purposes (Bennett, 2003). There are some researchers that have argued that social networking sites highlights most of the characteristics which might alter the use of social media from enhancing democracy and participation to being false advocate of democracy (Pearce and Jenny, 2010). Since the inception of the social networking websites, there has been a lot of changes in how democracy is practiced and how politics are played (Canes, 2002). Through social sites, people from across the world can talk and share the current situations in different countries. Social media allows people from different parts of the world to connect; social media also offers support for the growth of individuals especially staying informed. Social Media is a conventional way to interconnect, and unite social equality. Because of the media choice outcome, the duty of ensuring elected candidates are held accountable majorly rests on a moderately slight section of the population normally the news passionate or junkies. The ever changing social media surrounding has played a major role in equipping the news junkies with daily basis updates on democracy and politics direction hence giving them advantage in controlling the representatives from misusing their offices (Arnold, 2004). Though most people may have abandon news for entertainment programs, the news junkies have managed to access more than enough political information. Developments in media technology has really given the most individuals with passion for news the power to take control and to reveal any misdeeds of the leaders (Fishkin and James, 2009). With more comprehensive information being made available to the public means the world is moving to the right direction in terms of honoring and respecting democracy. It basically means that, there will be less number of individuals who are informed. The role social media plays is important to everyone as it serves the purpose of relaying educative information (Brian, 2012). Almost everyone nowadays have access to internet meaning it is unlikely to find people who does not access at least one social networking site. Millions of individuals who used to purchase newspapers either turned to online news or social networking sites to get updated information every hour and this information is provided for free. Research done by Bennett (2003) shows that online communication seems to be ever growing meaning that news junkies will ever remain informed on what is happening around the world; it is the job of these news junkies to keep other people informed and to stay updated. References Arnold, R. Douglas, (2004). Congress, the press and political Accountability. Princeton: Princeton University Press Bennett, W.L. (2003). New Media Power: The Internet and Global Activism in Contesting Media Power: Littlefield. Brian. D, Brian Loader and Dan Mercea, (2012). Social Media and Democracy:Innovations in Participatory Politics. Routledge Publishers. Canes.,W. Brandice, David W. Brady, and John F. Cogan, (2002). Electoral Accountability and House Members. American political Science. Castells, M. (2009). Communication Power. Oxford University Press. Castells, M., (2000). Toward a Sociology of the Network Society. Contemporary Sociology. Diamond and Larry. (2003). “Defining and developing democracy”. London, England. The MIT Press. Fishkin, James, (2009). When the people speak. Deliberative democracy and public consultation. Oxford University Press Papacharissi and Zizi (2010). A private sphere: democracy in a digital age. Cambridge: Polity. Pearce, Jenny (2010). Introduction in Jenny Perce (ed.) Participation and Democracy in the Twenty First Century. Palgrave McMillian. Robert. (1971). Polyarchy. New Haven: Yale University Press. Read More

As a result of digital media people around the globe have managed to access more communal affairs information. According to research most traditional media channels that were in existence only in certain regions of the nation or the globe now own websites, and news aggregator unify this pieces of information conveniently (Canes, 2002). Happenings around the world that used to be hard for the interest groups or government to collect can now be collected within a very short period of time due to new technologies; such information include roll call votes, government expenses and public opinion data, such information requires a person with internet access capability to do no more than just a mouse click.

Even though there is still a lot of information that needs to be put into use, at least a good percentage of electorate have equipped themselves with more than enough information. Watching television has provided most people with time to learn and about politics hence supporting media as a source of information that enhances democracy (David, 2002). The kind of people who benefit the most out of politics news being aired on daily basis are the people who prefer newscast, educative programs and what happens around the world than entertaining programs and therefore it means more people will come out to vote in their favorite candidates who are fit to rule basing their judgment on how knowledgeable they are.

The evolution from the low choice setting to high-quality world of cable connection and also internet connection had a totally different influence on people who choose news over entertainment (Bennett, 2003). For the news junkies to get informed they must make use of information which they now have access to because of digital media and not like in the past when technology was still in its early stages of development. The increased number of voters is as a result of political knowledge distribution which has been done easily through social media.

Political Liability and New media According to Arnold and Douglas (2004), the grouping of better accessibility of facts and amounting variation of its consumption might seem like a prototypical case of bad news or good news. In case political liability is coarsely comparative to the whole intake of provided political facts by entire members or associates of voters, then the significance of altering news viewers’ and listeners can conclude whether the bad news overshadows the good news. Arnold (2004) says, even though it is not necessary for every citizen to follow the news to get a comprehensive media reporting, it necessary to be well informed about the happenings in order to ensure elected representatives who are incompetent, wrong-doers, and like shirking are held accountable; it needs an informed electorate to do that.

If the representatives know that they are being monitored then at least they will not misuse their office or waste funds that belong to the public; they know that an auditing will be done or sanctioned in case they abuse their offices. Through media, competitions between the people or the candidates who want to be elected may lead to a more real observance because electorate favor candidates who are devoted to transparency (Brian, 2012). As long as a candidate knows that he or she is being monitored, they will not make good use of the information irregularities in their favor.

Therefore, a candidate seeking to be reelected for a certain position has a reason to perform according to his or her electorate inclinations even if the electorate do not have complete information about their doings. When re-election candidate is choosing an action, s/he must gauge themselves considering, what would the state of public opinion be in case the consequences of their misdeeds are brought to limelight during election time. Well informed electorate is a very important requirement for democracy and political accountability hence it means there must be a very high level of news or information exposure which media technology has done in a very effective way (Douglas, 2004).

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