Social Media and Political Content: Yes or No?
Some social media platforms have been reducing political content despite many getting their political news from those platforms
It’s not even a full six weeks into 2024 and already some people are noticing a difference in their social media feeds.
No, it is not that the “For You” pages are gone for good nor have algorithms been banned forever either. Quite the contrary. Instead, social media platforms such as Meta are reducing the amount of political content posted on their sites. For those who do not know, Meta is a conglomerate that includes Facebook, Instagram, and the increasingly popular Threads, which has been seeing many X/Twitter “refugees” gravitate towards since Elon Musk took over that site. Given the immense popularity and usage of all three platforms (maybe not so much Threads), reducing political content means limited access to information for millions of people. Despite the controversy over misinformation, bots, and conspiracy theories swarming social media, many do find out what is going on in the world, their country, and their neighborhoods through Meta sites.
The same goes for other social media platforms including Reddit, YouTube, NextDoor, and TikTok. Some do not allow political ads or the mere mention of certain political topics in case they influence viewers. No word about cracking down on conspiracy theories, misinformation, or even posts that influence depression and eating disorders in teenagers. And of course, there’s X/Twitter which only technically allows all political views but has become very right-wing since Musk took over, so left-wing posts won’t get much attention, albeit from any right-wingers attacking that post. Also, let’s not forget that Musk banned several journalists for criticizing, despite insisting he believes in freedom of speech. Same goes for Truth Social. Parler is set to be relaunched sometime this year, but it is not on Google or Apple app stores, so…
Anyway, if all these platforms are deliberately or inadvertently blocking political content to their audiences, then how can those audiences be aware of what’s going on politically, especially during this year’s presidential election? And isn’t limiting political content a form of censorship, during a year that many believe would define the future of American democracy?
Now, some would say that these platforms could allow or limit whatever they want because they are privately owned and are not public property; they are open to the public by private companies. It is kind of how someone allows the neighborhood or the whole world onto their private property to discuss and share ideas. But what if that private property is a place of major change and great influence?
Granted, there are many social media platforms out there besides the aforementioned. Aside from Threads, there is now BlueSky, Mastodon, and Spoutible. But these platforms are still new and still growing, and they have ways to go compared to Threads and the others. Of course, it is up to social media users to make these sites grow and thrive.
In the meantime, the longstanding sites are where the millions gather, and they are seeing limits to political posts, discussion, and ads. One Threads user, and fellow Substack writer, Katie Harbath, created this spreadsheet that keeps track of how tech companies define politics on their platforms. As you can see, not everything has the green light (Also, I recommend reading her Substack, Anchor Change, where she explores the intersection between democracy and technology).
Now, some of you may think social media is not the place to get news or any kind of political information. There are too many bots and too many trolls looking to pick fights with people, and what is really accurate on those platforms? But if you are someone of a younger generation, social media is the place to get your news. According to an August 2022 study by Statista, half of Gen Z (people born between the years 1997 - 2012) get their news from social media. Only 4% say they read the national newspapers and only 6% say they watch cable news. It only makes sense, because this generation is the digital natives, more so than previous generations but unlike Gen Alpha which comes after. Naturally, they will get their news from social media.
But if that is where they are getting their news and political content is being reduced or unencouraged, where will they get their information? Are they realizing what is happening?
Note that this problem comes at a time when the American news industry is in big trouble. Severe layoffs across journalism rattled and upset so many, and now social media sites are limiting what can be said or even seen, thanks to algorithms. And the 2024 presidential election is just getting started. What’s next?
Following and reposting posts with political content is one way to combat this reduction. Fight the algorithm, basically. Don’t let Zuckerberg win or control what you see. Or try another platform. Who’s in charge, him or the audience? I’m pretty sure a handful of tech billionaires in charge of millions of Americans, and billions of people worldwide, is no one’s idea of a democracy, as well as freedom.