Is the global decline in democracy linked to social media?

[Eldorado]

Here are two common ways of thinking about democracy in the online era. First, the internet is a liberation technology and will usher in an era of global democracy. Second, you can have social media or democracy, but not both.

Which is more correct? There is no doubt democracy is in retreat around the globe. Even supposedly stable democracies have recently seen events incompatible with democracy and the rule of law, such as the violent assault on the US Capitol in 2021.

To understand the role of social media in this process, we carried out a systematic review of the evidence linking social media to ten indicators of democratic wellbeing: political participation, knowledge, trust, news exposure, political expression, hate, polarisation, populism, network structure, and misinformation.

https://theconversation.com/is-the-global-decline-in-democracy-linked-to-social-media-we-combed-through-the-evidence-to-find-out-193841?

[MGB]

But in the end, it all comes down to common sense of the person using social media. Imo.

[+and-then]

6 hours ago, Eldorado said:

There is no doubt democracy is in retreat around the globe. Even supposedly stable democracies have recently seen events incompatible with democracy and the rule of law, such as the violent assault on the US Capitol in 2021. 9 months of burning, looting, and murdering during 2020...

Fixed that for ya, El.  

[qxcontinuum]

It's not the regress of democracy its the raise of anarchy. People are waking up and they realize the system is failing them that power is corrupt protecting bankers and rich, cresting laws for their only benefit and so it's the police. In absence of another system alternative, they refute democracy and capitalism. They don't stand a change yet against Tirany yet.

[Dejarma]

Democracy= what does it mean?

you can vote for who you want.. that's democracy... but your choice can only be out of those who can afford to run for office in the first place.

the great Henery Ford:

you can have any colour you want; as long as it's black

[MGB]

3 hours ago, and-then said:

Fixed that for ya, El.  

TBH, there was rioting and looting in 2020 that fell on the Governors of those states, and not Trump, as he could not deploy a States National guard or the US Armed Forces, even though he wanted to. Yet when the riot at the Capital happened Trump had his chance to deploy the guard but declined.

[+joc]

10 hours ago, Eldorado said:

ten indicators of democratic wellbeing: 1political participation, 2knowledge, 3trust, 4news exposure, 5political expression, 6hate, 7polarisation, 8populism, 9network structure, and  10 misinformation.

How can 'hate' be an indicator of democratic wellbeing?  How is 'misinformation' an indicator of democratic wellbeing?  News Exposure?  What are these people smoking?

[Alchopwn]

No, the global decline in democracy is linked to China and Russia, and the conspiratards, of the left and the right, who believe their propaganda.

Everyone who won't let us speak our minds is contributing.  Freedom of speech is the first freedom from which all others spring.  Threaten it and you threaten your own freedom.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

Right now, Russia, China and Iran, the three worst totalitarian offenders are in huge trouble.  Good times for democracy ! ! !

Edited November 28, 2022 by Alchopwn

[+Hammerclaw]

No. The global decline in social media is linked to democracy.