Policy experiences to deal with the trends and mechanisms of reality manipulation in social media and its consequences in politics and digital economy

Document Type : Policy Paper

Author

Master's student of cultural and media studies, University of Tehran

Abstract

This article examines the manipulation of reality on social media and its detrimental effects on politics and the digital economy. While social media initially offered hope for democracy and freedom of expression by providing access to diverse media resources and breaking the monopoly of mainstream media, some recent trends have overshadowed its potential. The widespread dissemination of fake and deceptive news on these platforms has become a tool for manipulating public opinion, even leading to social control in certain countries. Additionally, social media is employed for political propaganda in democratic systems. This article explores the necessity of policies to address the escalating trend of digital manipulation and evaluates the effectiveness of applied policies in Ukraine, Taiwan, and Brazil. The findings reveal that government policies in Ukraine have been less effective, but civil society efforts are actively countering computer propaganda. Taiwan has adopted a combination of technical and social approaches, while policymaking in Brazil has been challenging due to the activism of multiple stakeholders and the complexity of the digital ecosystem.

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References

References
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Strategic Studies of public policy
Volume 13, Issue 47
September 2023
Pages 204-221

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