Social Media and Politics

           I think we all know that society today is different than the late eighteenth century. There is more freedom and equality, but also communication and participation. However, that observation was true in the early 1980s before the internet was invented. The question of how social media plays into our daily lives and global governance is one that is not explored deeply enough, likely because social media is seen as a tool for younger generations. Is it not, however, the younger generations who demand change?

           My opinion is that social media is more often a good thing than a bad thing. It fosters communication and connection. As mentioned in the blog question, it allows more people to be involved in the public sphere. Is this not a good thing? Social media is free and easy to access; it allows people to create a platform that wouldn't have been possible before the internet. For example, the survivors from the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, or Greta Thunberg and her climate quest. They were once part of a minority view- social media allowed them to promote their beliefs and become part of a majority view.
           In regards to the Federalist Papers, there should be some reevaluation. In fact, it's fair to reevaluate much of the literature and thinking from America's founding. While the political thought was, for lack of a better word, revolutionary, the world has gone through several revolutions since then. If the political thinkers of the late eighteenth century thought that fifteenth and sixteenth-century political models were no longer applicable, shouldn't we in the twenty-first century feel the same? Like Machiavelli, Hamilton and Madison never could have predicted the size of the U.S., or the scale of globalization brought about by the industrial revolution, technological advances, and the creation of the Internet.
           In a past blog post, I argued that Machiavelli's arguments were still relevant today. I'm not taking back my word. I'll further argue that the Federalist Papers are still relevant today. All of these authors/thinkers made important points about how the world (mostly the political world) does and should function. I agree with Machiavelli that a leader should be practical and successful. I agree with Hamilton and Madison that a system must be in place to balance opinions and avoid polarizing factions. Their main points and the framework of their thought are absolutely still relevant. It is up to us to fill in the rest according to the zeitgeist.
           My last thought on this is in relation to censorship. I doubt any of you have read the terms and conditions, or even the rules for the social media platforms you are a part of. Did you know that Twitter can prevent topics from trending if they believe it violates their rules (ie graphic violence, targeted abusive behavior, pornography, etc)? If social media is the new public sphere, should we allow censorship? If so, from whom? Private companies like Twitter and Facebook, or governments? Lots of people think censorship on social media is a good thing- it's for the safety of our children, it prevents terrorism, it prevents copyright violations, etc. How far are we willing to limit our public sphere? Or perhaps is social media not the new public sphere at all, but simply a way of communication?