The Misinformation Crisis: How Social Media Undermines Democratic Legitimacy and Political Deliberation

Abstract

The rapid growth of social media has had an impact on political communication that has never before been seen. It provides an enormous opportunity for information to be disseminated. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns of social media is the widespread dissemination of “misinformation ” a topic that Study has shown has had an appreciable impact on society and a disproportionate impact on democratic processes and the widening of the gap in the political spectrum. This paper examines the relationship of misinformation to democracy with emphasis placed upon the role social media sites play in spreading fake or misleading information. Using theoretical frameworks and empirical data from case studies, the paper illustrates and provides insight into the harmful effects misinformation can have on the legitimacy of democratic institutions and the increase in ideological polarization toward elections. The paper continues to provide insights on how the concepts of algorithms, echo chambers and filter bubbles help promote the reinforcement of polarized viewpoints at the expense of deliberative democracy. Finally, the paper concludes with potential remedies to address the problem of misinformation, such as improving media literacy and fact checking and regulatory measures while also emphasizing the need to find a balance between addressing the spread of misinformation and protecting free speech.