Digital democratic citizenship

Digital Democratic Citizenship: Social networks as a tool to reinvigorate democracy
Name
Institution
Abstract
Modern political systems in most countries that aim to reinvigorate democracy tend to use the internet to promote engagement and collaboration with the general public. The use of this digital platforms to enhance and improve democratic space revolves around digital democratic citizenship. Thus, digital democracy aims at using information communication technologies as well as the computer communication systems like the internet, social media and the media for purposes of promoting and encouraging the participation and communication of the general public in matters of good governance and democracy at large. The use of social platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Myspace, and Twitter among others have become rampant in the modern-day democracy. The platforms are majorly used for purposes of encouraging communication, easy reach out and spread of information of various target groups as a means of political engagement and practices. Most of these platforms form a basis for the mobilization of voters during electoral periods thus having electoral significance in the modern day democracy.
Keywords: social media platforms, democracy, internet, mobilization, the electoral process, participation and information technology.
Introduction
The current day digital democracy has been enhanced through the advancement of information and communication platforms and the internet.

In essence, digital democracy aims at using the information and communication platforms or rather the computerized communication platforms for purposes of promoting citizens participation and enhancing political democracy in most countries of the world. Digital democracy, in essence, attempts to exercise democracy with no constraints of time or space through the use of information communication platforms. (Hacker et al. 2000). Such information communication platforms include the use of social networking media like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and YouTube among others. There is much attention given to the current political parties and its candidates that use the internet and other social platforms. There are also major debates by scholars and other stakeholders who have different views and opinions as to whether the social networking platforms work against or in favor of democracy. Majority of scholars agree to the fact there the political environment, communication and engagement are changing with the use of social platforms. Some view that social media reinvigorate democratic processes while some view the platforms as dangers and a threat to the democratic process.
It is on record that the center for technology and innovation at Brookings created a forum of discussion which focused on the use of social platforms and digital platforms in the effort of reinvigorating democracy. It also included social networking engagements, collaboration as well as communication. It also involved campaigns, activism as well as democratic governance.
The role of social networking processes in enhancing democracy is measured by various aspects. For instance, it is for the record that social platforms can increase the speed of information delivery to the public thus helping in creating a more and well-informed citizens and society at large. The social platforms also act as a medium of political communication and engagements. This creates a platform in which every citizen is in a better position to express his or her views with no constraints of time. The networking platforms also promote new ways of organizing discussion forums at a relatively cheaper and easier way and also the reach out regarding numbers is large. The networking platforms allow the citizens to create agendas for the political candidates they understand the very issues that affect them. The social platforms also create competition for other media like television, radios as well as newspapers. Since this alternative media are believed to distort information, the social platform in most occasions in preferred by most citizens due to the direct engagement to their preferred candidates and their political party of their choice. Thus, it can be said that politics will be in a better position to respond and engage the general public more directly through the social networking platforms thus enable and creating a form of political marketing environment.
The major topics of discussion in this paper included: The role of social media platforms as a tool in political communications engagements. The role of social networks in political campaigns. The role of social media as a tool for citizens discussion and feedbacks. The impact of social platforms on civic activism and the future of social media in shaping the democratic processes. (Poell et al. 2015). The broad and detailed study of this topics will be aimed at creating and illustrating how social media networks and platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube enhance digital democratic citizenship.
Research question
What is the role of social networking platforms as a tool to reinvigorate democracy?
Case study description
The case study research revolved around the study question. The study question focused on the role social media platform plays as a tool in reinvigorating democratic processes. Through past experiences, observations, and knowledge, it can be formulated that the social media platforms play a positive and significant role in enhancing and improving the democratic systems digitally. The platforms encourage communications, quick delivery of information to the public and specific target groups as well as enhancing and spreading democratic values. From this qualitative information, it can be deduced that social media as a tool has a vital role in promoting peace, unity, electoral practices as well as in the modern day democracy of major countries of the world.
Research study concepts
In evaluating the need for realizing the democratic potential of the internet and other digital platforms, Coleman and Blumler (2009), explains that the internet has greatly improved public communication. He adds that the internet is also in the process of democratizing technology as well as governance. For citizens to enhance democratic principles, some aspects must be considered. For instance, processes and institutions that are regarded to be democratic must be sensitive to the way in which citizens express their views and concerns. Democracy must also keep in touch with its citizens through communications, and the democratic processes must be seen to have an impact. This can be achieved through listening to the concerns and views of the general public and the government acting on them through the provision of solutions.
Mass communication in the twenty-first century aims at transmitting large volumes of information to a wider audience within the shortest time possible. The emergence of the digital era and the development of social networking platforms has greatly impacted the flow of information instantly. The resulting consequences and impacts of this hopes for democratic communication are greatly important.
According to research by Winbey (2015), he found out that majority of citizens who consume more media information particularly through social platforms have a higher chance of being involved and engaged in political matters in a greater measure. In the current society, we live a universe where digital advancement has caused much of people’s time and attention being directed towards social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Majority of scholars are trying to evaluate the relationship that exists between social platforms and public engagement. For instance, it for the record that during the Barrack Hussein Obama presidential in the year 2008 and the year 2012 (as well as the political actions at the time) revolved around digital networking via the social platforms. It is dais that the Obama campaigns revolutionized the major aspects of elections through online platforms. This is because the social platforms played a significant role in fundraising, mobilization of voters, spreading of the political agendas as well as encouraging voter participation.
The journal on political mobilization and social influence recorded that messages and feedbacks sent on Facebook and Twitter accounts concerning political players could significantly have a great impact on the patterns of voting during democratic elections processes. The study by Facebook scientists of data suggests that messages sent by close friends were likely to increase voter turnout by a significantly greater percentage. Thus, it can be said that close friends on social platforms had a greater influence on other people.
Concerning Boulianne (2015), he argues that there is a relationship between social networking sites and civic engagement about citizen democratic actions such as protesting and voting. According to Boulianne study, the records that there is a positive relationship between social networking sites and civic engagement, collaboration, and participation in political matters. There was also a significant impact on the use of social platforms as a tool for campaigning in election periods. Thus, it can be deduced that social networking sites play a positive role in enhancing citizen’s engagement and participation. In turn, it helps in the public opinions and their narratives as well as providing a greater understanding of political, social and democratic affairs.
Study topics of discussions and analysis
Social media and political communications and engagement
Democracy is majorly recognized by the freedom of citizens of a particular state or republic to communicate freely without fear. Social networking has indeed provided a mechanism in which people can discuss political issues and concerns that affect them and the country at large. Due to the faster spread of information and quick reach out to a large number of people, most political parties, as well as political candidates, use the social platforms to communicate. For example, Facebook and Twitter were used by the Democrats and the Republicans to aid in fundraising, mobilization of voters, identification of their supporters as well as in bringing the people together in electoral processes. The political candidates also use the social networking medium for campaigning purposes and spreading their agenda to the public. This improves and enhances democratic engagements. Since the majority of the population that use the social media platforms are majorly youths, conversations and discussions within this platforms mainly encompass issues that affect them. (They also form the majority of voters).
Majority of the political candidates compete based on ideas and agendas. Sometimes the candidates differ on interpretations as well as facts. Most people who use the internet resources are likely to fact check these claims and come up with correct interpretations which are mainly posted on social platforms where everybody can engage in quality and relevant discussions. Thus the people who post their ideas on the social networks act as broadcasters and in so doing are likely to change the nature of political communications. It is therefore important for those with political ambitions to have great influence on the social networks and win the trust of the majority of the social platform users. It is projected that future political influence is likely to be measured by social networking capacities since they are the major platforms for quick access and evaluations of information of political nature.
Another way in which social media affects political and electoral communications is that majority of citizens now creating their social networks and candidates are required to respond to the hard questions. Political players should take this networks and forums seriously since they help them in explaining and driving their agenda thus enhancing civic participation. Research has it that trusted, and reliable information sources are known to be more persuasive to voters so drawing on the available and existing social networking platforms promotes a great medium for influencing and affecting national debates and conversations.
Over the year’s communication from the government used to follow a certain chain of command. The information used to pass through the government, then the parliament and to the local authorities. Communications used to be in the form of reports or memorandum which were available to a relatively smaller portion of the public. These forms of communications have been reversed by technological advancement and development of the digital era. Currently, state officials and government institutions have social media pages and websites where information can easily be disseminated to and fro. For example, the majority of the Presidents like Donald Trump has a twitter account that facilitates interactions and communications with his supporters. (Coleman et al. 2009).
Social networking platforms help in disseminating the information as well as exposure. In the current era, politics should no longer be a game where open-minded individuals echoed each other, but a democratic process where digital networking platforms enriched conversations through public participation and engagement. This, in turn, leads to national debates and dialogues which helps the citizens to evaluate candidates about their policies and ideas.
Social networking as a campaign platform
Social networking has become increasingly rampant as a tool in facilitating political campaigns for various political parties. In democratic societies of the past, most political candidates used leaflets, campaign vehicles as well as door to door visits as methods of reaching out to voters during election periods. Through the internet and digital advancement as well as the development of online platforms such as the social networks, the majority of these candidates currently use them to reach out to a large number of population at a faster rate. Many election experts argue that the outcrop of social media platforms as campaign tools usually influence political proceedings to the extent that the democratic processes involved are itself facing a threat. (Philip, 2016). Most of the finances spent during electioneering period are usually limited by most electoral laws of the state. With social media campaigns, it poses a difficulty in monitoring spending on who and where especially at the local levels. This implies that some large amounts of money can be used to influence poll results at this levels. Thus, this raises concerns of the democratic process involved brought about by the digital era of social networks.
Experts also believe that political candidates use this social networking platforms to lure voters into their respective political parties. The modern and digital voter currently do not choose their political party in time and stick with it and its principles. The voter is likely to change from one political party to the one they believe is in a better position to govern the country better off. So as a tool of campaign and persuasion, social platforms play an important role. According to a research done by Simon Moores, who was also one of the candidates in the general elections for the conservative party, he argues that majority of the British people modernly get their views, opinions, and impressions on the internet and social platforms. This implies that most political parties and candidates are likely to exploit new avenues of media such as the social networking to reach out to the general public. He also agrees to the fact that it is good for citizens to discuss and converse on political issues during campaign periods. The challenge comes in during resource expenditures. A lot of money is usually spent on social platforms in sending advertisement and in feeding the public with propaganda majorly for purposes of distorting an electoral process. Thus, as it was said by Sandoval (2014), the social platforms as a means of communication are feeding the public and the society at large with volumes of information.
Majority of the political parties in the current day democratic process use social networking platforms like Facebook pages and Twitter account to target voters as well as sending their message across to their supporters. The political parties are likely to use humor advertisements in passing their message to the people. In so doing, they are in better position to promote themselves and undermine their competitors. The political candidates’ also social platforms as a way of advertising. They mainly post their campaign posters, their manifestos, create engagement forums of communication. This acts as a means to lure voters and promote their publicity. For example, Facebook admitted that its platform was highly used and exploited by political players during the United States and French general elections.
Social networking as a tool has emerged to be used in persuading voters to vote for a particular candidate. Most citizens have become agents of persuasion on social platforms for various political parties and candidates. Bloggers and agents use this platforms to convince voters to vote as well as spreading the agenda of the respective political parties.
Social media as a tool for citizen discussions and feedbacks
Currently, the government institutions and other political players use surveys and comments as forms of soliciting feedback majorly obtained from the social platforms. The institutions or the government is likely to ask the opinion of the general public concerning a particular matter. By so doing, the citizens engage in discussions among themselves. This discussion allows citizens to engage with the government and other institutions thus helping in shaping the general output of ideas. Through the social platforms, citizens are in a better position to speak up their mind about a particular issue. Through this, democracy is enhanced through digital social networking mechanism. Thus, government institutions, agencies, and political players are encouraged to develop mechanisms in which the entire citizens are in a position to discuss issues with their respective political elites. In the current era, there is the likelihood that a large number of the population felt alienated and disengaged in political discussions and affairs. In such cases, social networking offers as a medium of reconnecting the citizens to their leaders, which might be viewed to be creating a sense of responsibility and public accountability.
According to the Macon Philips, the Whitehouse director of digital strategies, he argues that social networking creates a new model of citizens’ discussions. He further explains that majority of reporters are following social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube as well as incorporating the voices of people during reporting. In so doing, it enhances democratic conversations and gives the entire citizens a voice and a say in most of the government debates.
Social networking platforms as a tool for civic activism
Most political activists use social media platforms to educate the general public as well as engaging them on political matters. Most of the activists usually speak out against discrimination and lack of inclusivity and equal opportunities in the government. They tend to fight on behalf of the citizens for their rights. The issues they raise revolve around social justice, equal representation, respect for human rights, respect for the rule of law and the constitution, equal development activities among others. The activists use the social networking platforms to educate the public on these issues. They tend to engage the public through encouraging them to join them in the fight. The public citizens can help through participating in peaceful demonstrations, economic boycotts, picketing as well as raising their concerns in the court of law. Through this, the citizens get the chance to be educated on their rights.
The activists also engage the government in listening and solving their concerns through digital mediums. The government, activists and the entire citizens can engage in discussions on the way forward in resolving certain disputes that might arise with the democratic space.
It is also on record that much of political activism is mainly by individual effort with the use of digital social networks to coordinate the majority of the actions. Digital networks are currently changing the way the membership in this activism movements is organized, how funds are raised as well as how goals are achieved. In the previous era before digital activism, most activities were done through the door to door networking and distribution of handouts. In the digital era of activism, issues are raised in various ways. For instance, Facebook protests, petitions filed digitally and had heated online debates on various issues. Most of the political activists believe that these actions usually shift the political playing field as well as the content of political discourse. (Wihbey, 2013).
The future of social networking on democratic political processes
It is said that politicians are like brands when it comes to the use of social platforms during the electioneering periods. This is because social platforms create a channel of communications between the political candidates, the government and the entire citizens. In essence, representative democracy can be regarded to be perfectly placed through social networking. It is projected that in future, the revolution of politics will not be televised, but rather tweeted. This is argued based on the message; thus social platform will likely to determine who is electable and who is not. It is on record that before the emergence of television, there were candidates who could win an election but did not have a chance of winning when televisions emerged. Thus social platforms, being tools of communication will not be of exception. In the previous eras, television formed the platforms of political communication and campaigns. Today, with the emergence of the digital and social networks, there is a significant change in the communication patterns politically.
In the modern day society, social networking platforms have become mediums where citizens spend most of their time discussing issues that matter. The society has integrated itself into the changing media. It is also seen on Facebook or Twitter where citizens follow and become fans of the political candidates of their choice. In so doing, it becomes relatively easier for the candidates to communicate with their supporters easily and more conveniently. In the view of what is happening currently in the political spectrum is the rejection of the traditional media. It is also recorded that the majority of the people get their news online especially through social platforms. Future political campaigns are projected to be supporter centered where the needs of the supporters on the social-political platforms are given priority rather than the political interest and ambitions of the candidates. It is also projected that shortly as political trust in social platforms is shifting from organization towards the individual persons, there is the likelihood of creating political brands.
In the future, the platforms are projected to be socially connected to public legislation. In the sense that the social platforms can influence direct democracy. It is suggested that social media networks need to be incorporated in the daily activities of the U.S Congress; not just as a tool of engagement and communication but as a way in which citizens can be involved in the processes of legislative decision making. For example, social media users on Facebook or Twitter can be involved in determining through voting on which programs within the government should not be included in the budget. Through such engagement, the citizens will be in a position to have a say as well as impacts on what their elected candidates and representatives usually vote for when they are on the house floor. This implies that legislators are in a position to listen and cut through the social media responses posted by individuals. Also, focusing and promoting public engagement platforms, elected officials can attract and involve the majority of experts as well as activists who could be interested in solving the particular issues at hand.
Conclusion
The idea of political players using social networking sites in influencing the citizens and the general public is becoming a trend. Most of the supporters and optimists allude to the fact that most of the social networking platforms enhance individual accountability, openness, and transparency as well as encouraging public participation and engagement with the political players. Others individuals also argue that social networking sites act a medium of engagement. The social networking sites came with the motive to reinvigorate democratic processes and people involvement which majorly targets the youth people. As it has been explained, it is evident that social platforms help in engaging the youth people in civic activities as well as political matters. The trend is projected to increase as more youth people join this social platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
The study provides evidence that social platforms have increased the degree of influence as well as participation among citizens. The process of digital democratic citizenship and transformation revolves around sharing of ideas, acquisition and transfer of knowledge and information, citizen engagement and participation among others. This, in turn, reinvigorates the democratic processes of a country.
Currently, citizens are tired of political sound bites and scapegoating as well as the unseemliness nature of politics. Majority of citizens are in need of involvement and eager to make impact and difference. Thus, a social networking platform should be more attractive and accommodative to all citizens regardless of age or ideologies. Every citizen should be a position to express him or herself within this platforms without fear or favor.
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