Social media is a feature of politics now – locally, nationally, and internationally. Its influence is much greater than it was when I returned to Wokingham Borough Council (after a seven years’ break) in 2019.
We are all familiar with its negative aspects. Social media privileges instant reactions over considered comments. It provides a space for the venting of emotions that might, on reflection, be voiced in a less strident way, or not voiced at all. It often conveys the impression of a world full of anger and trenchant, uncompromising views; the moderate, calm people, who look to bring communities together rather than drive them apart, and seek rational and pragmatic solutions to problems, can easily have their voices drowned out.
Rumours and false information can gain traction much more rapidly than in the days before social media became so important in our lives. Social media erodes trust in recognised and previously respected news outlets, to which people turned with confidence for accurate and balanced assessments. And, most obviously, it gives an opportunity, in an unregulated space, for unscrupulous individuals or groups to manipulate opinion by presenting lies as truth and truth as lies.
All this adds up to a pretty strong case for seeing social media as a malign development that threatens honesty and integrity in politics and in life generally.
But there is another side to the story, the positive aspects of social media, which can easily be forgotten if we focus for too long on the negatives.
Social media is not in itself responsible for the bad use that is sometimes made of it – that is the responsibility of those who knowingly try to mislead or stir up emotions for their own benefit.
So long as we approach it with caution, keep our critical faculties honed, and question why we are being told what we are being told, social media gives many more people access to much more information than was easily available before. That must be a good thing, as wider access to information leads to a greater awareness of the complexity of problems and helps to protect us against falling for the arguments of those who want us to see the world in overly simple terms.
I received a good example of how useful social media can be when I posted recently on a local (managed) site about the challenges of dealing with the parking problems created by the popularity of Twyford Station.
The post stimulated a great range of suggestions and a lively local debate. It was community involvement at its best, with a multitude of thoughtful contributions. Without the post, I would have been unaware of some of the ideas suggested, and readers of the post would have known less about what their councillors are doing.
I’m grateful to all those who took the time and trouble to share their views. I learned much and I hope others did too.
My conclusion? Social media, used responsibly, can be a friend, rather than an enemy, to democracy.
