POL 330N Week 4
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Chamberlain University College of Nursing *
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330N
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Political Science
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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3
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1
List the ways in which contemporary presidential campaigns have used social media as a
campaign tool. Do you consider social media as a successful tool? Explain your answer. Do
you see social media as an unsuccessful tool? Student's Name
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2
List the ways in which contemporary presidential campaigns have used social media as a
campaign tool. Do you consider social media as a successful tool? Explain your answer. Do
you see social media as an unsuccessful tool?
Contemporary presidential campaigns have increasingly utilized social media as a campaign tool. According to Greenberg and Page (2018) in chapter 5 of our textbook, candidates
today maintain Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media accounts to engage directly with potential voters. These platforms allow campaigns to craft targeted messages, fundraise, organize supporters, and tap into pre-existing social networks. I believe social media has generally been a successful campaign tool because it enables candidates to better connect with diverse constituencies and supplement more traditional methods like T.V. ads. However, overreliance on social media comes with risks, such as the spread of misinformation, lack of vetting for sensationalized content, and "filter bubbles" that reinforce existing views over exposing voters to new ideas
(Nelimarkka et al., 2020). Social media expands the reach of campaigns but must be used judiciously alongside fact-checking and dialogue to maximize its benefits and minimize its downsides.
As discussed in Chapter 6, Greenberg and Page (2018) state that the rise of social media has coincided with increasing political polarization in the U.S. In addition, platforms are designed in ways that can exacerbate ideological "sorting" as like-minded individuals cluster together and avoid opposing views. Campaigns are then incentivized to engage in more strategically targeted negative messaging tailored for narrowed audiences on these customized networks (Greenberg and Page, 2018). Similarly, while social media gives voice to more citizens, it also threatens to divide public opinion further and impede thoughtful compromise. Mitigating these tendencies may require platform changes and renewed civic emphasis on bringing Americans with diverse perspectives together through respectful and open-minded discussion.
As covered in Chapter 10, the authors agree that both opportunities and risks arise from how modern campaigns leverage social media (Greenberg and Page, 2018). Harnessing its connectivity while countering disinformation, outrage, and insularity poses ongoing challenges. However, future campaign innovations on social media should prioritize expanding tolerant debate rather than just rallying existing partisan bases. I can agree that these tools have become integral to the democratic process but also threaten democratic values, meriting ongoing reform and civic vigilance.
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