7 Common Misconceptions About the Social Media Era

Understanding Internet Democracy

In recent years, the concept of internet democracy has become a hot topic in sociology, with thousands of articles and hundreds of books published annually in various languages. From the outset, researchers believed that the internet would foster true democracy worldwide, dismantle the monopoly of traditional media, and unite everyone in a global community. However, recent developments have challenged this notion. People are becoming less interested in news, Russian bots are accused of influencing American elections, and the Chinese internet is now accessible only through a special ‘social credit’ card. Several myths have emerged about the internet’s potential impact and its future development. Here are the most common misconceptions:

1. The Internet Will Create Democracy

At first glance, it seems that if everyone can join the conversation, their voice will be heard. Unfortunately, the rich continue to get richer, and major news providers still dominate the market. Smaller news communities and local media struggle to survive, often resorting to selling political advertisements and sponsored content. While you still have choices, many people prefer watching entertaining videos on YouTube rather than navigating the complexities and biases of news outlets. With the overwhelming amount of information available, it’s easy to be misled. Without critical thinking, one might inadvertently support misinformed causes, such as the flat Earth theory.

2. We Are All Journalists Now

While we have smartphones and social media accounts, we primarily share memes and personal photos. We rarely generate new and unique content. Many video bloggers gain popularity through their reactions to other videos rather than creating significant original content. Meanwhile, traditional media outlets are reducing their staff, but an army of ‘influencers’ and bloggers who have become brands is emerging. These influencers can sell anything from cosmetics to luxury cars, saturating the market and making it difficult for newcomers to break through. If you dream of having a popular channel, be prepared to invest significantly more resources than those who have already established their niche.

3. The Wisdom of the Crowd

Sociologists suggest that if you ask a question to a large group of people, the answer will always be correct. However, this naive optimism overlooks the hundreds of ways people and their data can be manipulated. In countries without strict content regulation, yellow journalism continues to thrive. People earn substantial money by fabricating sensational stories to attract more interest. Even today, some people follow advice from questionable online sources like Otvet@Mail.ru.

4. The Internet is a Global Village

Journalist Marshall McLuhan predicted in 1964 that in the age of information technology, everyone would have access to the same information. While this has come true, companies like Google and Facebook have become the primary gatekeepers of information worldwide. As they fall under U.S. jurisdiction, there is a high probability of governmental propaganda influencing their operations, which can significantly impact countries with developing economies.

Moreover, you might think you have the same access opportunities as people in other countries. However, Telegram is still blocked in Iran, Twitter is inaccessible in China, and residents of Kazakhstan cannot read certain websites.

5. The Internet Unites Us

It’s wonderful that the internet and social media allow us to communicate with people worldwide. In an instant, we can message thousands of people on WhatsApp or create an online petition. We can easily join debates and participate in research programs from any scientific course.

However, American researchers Michael Beam, Mia Hutchens, and Jay Hmielowski found that reading online media and social media materials has different effects. Offline reading enhances knowledge, while fragmented information on social media does not improve the ability to analyze and use data in the future.

6. No One Believes Online Media

When asked if they trust the media, most people in many countries say ‘no.’ However, when asked about a specific favorite publication, trust levels rise sharply from 30% to 55%. In Russia, according to surveys by the Public Opinion Foundation, one in four people believe that the media does not report all available information. Surprisingly, a third of the country’s residents consider it acceptable to distort information in publications for the sake of perceived common good.

7. The New Generation is Digital

The biggest myth is that there is a new digital generation that is skeptical of mainstream news and is creating a democratic future with equal opportunities for all. It’s comforting to think that this new generation understands how to use the internet for good and create a better world than their parents did. However, the reality is that this ‘new generation’ is growing up in a digital age and struggles to distinguish truth from falsehood and understand complex connections. They find it challenging to navigate propaganda and disinformation and tend to rely more on online opinions than offline interactions.