- Thesis statement
This paper will elaborate on the concept of the internet, specifically social media, and how it affects politics in general. The internet is a global network connecting a million of computers all over the world. Social media is a phrase being used so often nowadays and it is the means of interacting among people of different set ups, sharing and exchanging information and ideas in virtual communities. It is believed that we are moving to a digital era and the internet is playing a vast role in governance, activism and campaigns. The internet has major effects on world politics such as; politics polarization, political mobilization and also forms contentious politics. This is because the internet offers a platform for airing views and when these views are offered, like minded people come together, individuals are mobilized and some such as activists use the platform as a tool for protests and activism hence contentious politics.
- Stakes of the above claim
It is of major importance to explore how the internet affects politics since we are moving to a more digital era and the internet is fast rising as a source of information therefore many individuals will be using it to get their information as well as airing their views.
- Publication of this editorial
An article like this is most likely to be seen in political journals as well as general news journals such as the guardian. Most American citizens both employed and unemployed and students as well read these journals. It will affect my language in that, I will have to use a more understandable language to favor the students and my tone as well will be subtle sop as not to incite any individuals, the article must be evidence based as well to avoid suits.
- One possible alternative Cause or effect
The print media can also be a platform for political mobilization since majority of the individuals can read and write, it can provide a platform for mobilizing people to either vote, protest or hold a mass action.
- Two credible opinion sources/speakers on the subject
There have been major debate on how the internet has affected world politics and a few writers have spoken on the issue regarding the internet and have reviewed the effects.
Sunstein (2002) speaks on how the internet has led to polarization; he argues that even though the social media might not explain polarization, it does exacerbate it, he insists that the internet reduces contact between people with dissimilar political views and thus increasing polarization. He continues to argue that since the internet makes it easy for the users to air their political views, this makes people with like minded views to be closer than they were before. Susstein is a legal scholar and he is a credible source since he specializes in constitutional law and can see how the internet is affecting politics in general.
John Wihbey, 2012, researched on Findings from a study dubbed“A 61 Million person experiment in social influence and political mobilization” concluded that online mobilization works as it induces political self expression as well as information gathering and real validated voter turnout In the 2010 elections, Facebook users were shown messages encouraging them to vote, nearby polling stations and icon that said “I voted” and this encouraged many people to go out and vote thus increasing voter turnout. John Wihbey is an editor of Journalist resource at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center on the press, politics and public policy and therefore he is at a very good position to see the trends in politics especially on the onset of the internet.
The two sources game me an insight on how the internet has affected the politics of the world and I absolutely concur with them that indeed politics has been affected by the internet in terms of political polarization and mobilization.
The internet has widely affected the way politics is played in the world, it has led to many people airing their political views and on doing so, people with like views tend to come together hence polarization, the internet also has been used by individuals for political mobilization and the activists are not left behind in the internet buzz as they are using their blogs as a platform to air their views as well as protesting and activism. It is therefore my since wish that individuals use the internet for positive actions in regard to politics and not to incite their fellow human beings into violent acts or bad protests. At the end of the day one question remains, is the internet the future of politics?