With the 2024 election just days away, the threat of
disinformation looms larger than ever. While disinformation has always been a
part of the democratic process—for centuries, political candidates have lied
about one another—the speed with which it spreads today, thanks to social
media, is unprecedented. Today, American voters are inundated with manipulated
social media content, misleading narratives, conspiracy theories, and
coordinated misinformation campaigns. And while disinformation is currently flooding
all social media platforms on the political spectrum, it is more prevalent on
right-leaning channels. Take, for example, the recent right-wing claims that
Democrats
“manipulated”
the hurricanes that recently pummeled red sates in the South. But Americans
must also contend with disinformation campaigns originating from bad actors
outside our country, including
Russia,
China, and Iran. In fact, just last month, the US Dept. of Justice revealed
that a number of
conservative
influencers were paid by Russia to spread pro-Russian propaganda. All of
this risks the integrity of our democratic process by sowing distrust among
voters and undermining confidence in electoral outcomes. But what can you do to
identify election disinformation? What tools do voters have at their disposal
to combat these lies? Finally, what obligation, if any, do social media companies
have in reigning in election disinformation?
Include at least two of the following in your reflection:
Requirements:
- MLA Style, including parenthetical citations and works cited
- ≈500 words
Due: Fri 11.1 (via Canvas)
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