In an era so dependent on social media as a primary source of information and opinion, one might wonder about the effect this phenomenon has on our everyday lives. Everyone has a voice, an opinion, or a fun fact that they would like to share with the world, but we often become so expressive that we don't consider the impact our words might have on the external world.
As a double-edged sword, social media can be very helpful, but controlling it is a must. Anti-democrats often justify the suppression of individual expressiveness by arguing that too much freedom leads to chaos, moral decay, or a breakdown of social cohesion. Therefore, if we view social media as a democratic platform where individual freedom is prioritized, would it not lead to the same outcomes feared by anti-democrats?
Actions speak louder than words, they say, but have you ever thought about how words can lead to actions? When looking at the influence of social media on reality, there is an influence on every sector. Still, if we focus on national security, we can notice that a single criticism, for example, on some law or a certain event that is based solely on opinion rather than facts, can lead to disruption, where people may begin to argue, take sides, and turn against policymakers. Even without direct action, the spread of hatred alone can be enough to create a sense of insecurity and instability.
While looking at the democratic spectrum of poor, healthy, and advanced democracies, we usually can conclude that poor democracy can result in instability where the people feel oppressed and unheard, whereas advanced democracies can have too many parties and freedom that eventually lead to instability as well. This means a healthy democracy where freedom exists to a certain level can lead to peace.
When applying this spectrum to social media, it's not about enforcing laws that silence people and make them feel oppressed, but rather about spreading awareness that not every thought should be shared. And if shared, not every opinion should be taken at face value; reasonableness is key.
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