Social Media as Public Political Instrument

Abstract

Social media has played important roles in social movements in many parts of the world. It has been used to raise people's awareness about the injustice they suffer as well as to mobilize them to challenge a repressive government. Social media enables people to define public interests by themselves, taking over the role previously taken by elites. It is all due to its simplicity which allows anyone to be both a producer and consumer of information. Citizens are no longer the spectators of political games played by the elites, but they can participate and even mobilize public opinions challenging those in power. The possibility of anonymous interactions allows anyone to express any view without the fear of disapproval and sanction, which leads to the plurality of discourse, which in turn increases the possibility of democratization. However, the impact of social media is not deterministic, and it is not always beneficial to public. Even those in power can use it to preserve the existing hierarchy of power.