Digital Age of Political Influence | Luna Fast & Helin Turhan | TEDxYouth@BerlinCosmopolitanSchool

Social Media & Political Discourse - Social media algorithms prioritize engagement over truth, rewarding outrageous posts and contributing to the spread of misinformation [5][6] - Echo chamber effect on social media reinforces existing beliefs, creating polarized realities and potentially provoking action based on misinformation [7][8] - Misinformation spread through social media can fuel real-world aggression and fragment society, posing a threat to democracy [10][11] Government Influence & Manipulation - Governments may utilize social media to control dissenting voices and manipulate narratives, even in seemingly democratic countries [11][12] - State-controlled media intertwining with social media platforms allows ruling parties to control public discourse and suppress opposition [12] - Governmental powers can manipulate social media to their advantage by providing only their own perspective, leading to polarizing opinions and misinformation [13][14] Counteracting Misinformation & Polarization - Media literacy programs, like those in Finland, are crucial for teaching critical analysis of news sources and identifying misinformation [17] - Individuals should verify information through lateral reading, checking multiple reputable sources to combat misinformation [18][19] - Combating misinformation and political polarization requires demanding accountability, prioritizing education, and fostering critical thinking [19] Examples of Social Media's Impact - The January 6th, 2021 attack on the US Capitol was fueled by false claims of election fraud and conspiracy theories propagated online [9][10] - The German far-right party AFD has gained support through social media marketing, using hashtags, bots, video content, and slogans to spread their ideology [15][16] - Following the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry used online ads to shape opinion about the war [13] - By 2026, Europol predicts that 90% of online content may be synthetically generated using artificial intelligence, increasing the potential for misinformation [6]