![]() This transformation has resulted in an increased rise of populism around the world. The political landscape has been transformed by new and social media. It is within this space that people can initiate or perform roles as producers of content, broadcasters, audiences, and political actors (Castells, 2013). In other words, social media enable power where an online community or the virtual world has become a dialectical space. Consequently, communication is no longer confined by geographical boundaries, but rather globalized to the extent that it is linked to the “ideology of worldwide communication” (Mattelart, 2002, p. This evolution is stimulating new patterns of production, reception, content, and circulation, allowing for new forms of engagement through participation, production, and consumption. Therefore, the result is an evolution of electronic communication technology (Castells, 2013). In essence, this dynamic constitutes social media that readily put information and messages in the hands of individuals at a speed never seen before. Ubiquitous computing is also known as the third wave of computers, in which hand-held devices with Internet wireless technology are widespread and highly accessible. However, recently people have been exposed and engaged in what has been termed as a mass-self communication (Castells, 2013) that is embedded within ubiquitous computing (Moffitt, 2016). For instance, it was noted that in 2010 that individuals between 8 and 18 years of age were exposed to a daily average of 10.45 hours of various media technology (see Dahl & Newkirk, 2010). Multiplier effects such as these that occur through social media can go on in perpetuity. New and Social media provide information for individuals in certain networks while they also create multiplier effects as those same individuals attempt to reach others in their networks. ![]() ![]() ![]() Therefore, this chapter incorporates specific examples and analogies from events such as the Brexit vote and US elections, along with subsequent tweets by the president of the United States. The capacity to morph or create multiplier effects suggest that social media messages, such as tweets and retweets of a few minority influencers, can become something considerably larger in terms of support of a person or a particular policy (Cook et al., 2014 Wilson, 2011). Along this line, this chapter explores how Twitter and Facebook in particular are used in a manner that creates chaos within regions and have arguably become an authoritative vehicle for persuasion (Cook et al., 2014 Waters & Williams, 2011). Consequently, social media outlets and people who consume information through them are putting pressure on the idea of democracy such that democratic societies as we know them may cease to exist. This chapter explores how social media have become a platform for fake news and propaganda to influence certain audiences toward a particular way of thinking. Furthermore, the size of a group or an organization pushing a particular message no longer matters. This is because social media do not subscribe to the same established journalistic rules of vetting and reporting news. The ability of a person or group to overstate an agenda and dominate the conversation is easily accomplished on social media such as Twitter. However, social media platforms are also increasingly being used as a means for empowering disruptive voices, messages, or ideologies (e.g., xenophobia, neo-Nazism, anti-immigration/ globalization, cultural homogeneity, etc.) (Cook, Waugh, Abdipanah, Hashemi, & Rahman, 2014 Gleason, 2013). They are also viewed as a way to overcome state-controlled media and content (Bartlett, Birdwell, & Littler, 2011) especially in the developing world (Bartlett, Birdwell, & Littler, 2011). New and social media are hailed as vehicles for providing a voice to the voiceless. Consequently, this chapter emphasizes that it is imperative to figure out a way to maintain sensible dialogues that promote democratic principles. However, the current state of social media and networking sites leave individuals to conclude that these media platforms may be holding democracy hostage instead of leading to the free and equal democratic ideals they were believed to support. New and social media have been touted as an equalizer for disenfranchised individuals to participate or contribute in civic engagement and to foster democratic ideals. Computer-mediated communication, a novel and emerging area just a few decades ago, has evolved from an academic collaboration tool to what is commonly referred to as new and social media.
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