In February 2022, a war between Ukraine and Russia broke out. Something many of us didn't imagine and anticipate. After World War 2, leaders worldwide ensured that no other world war would happen. And the battle between Ukraine and Russia gives us fear and anxiety that world war three may occur after 75 years.
But What does Social Media's connections to war? Can Social Media really can start a war?
Social Media today is a powerful tool. A website or an app that we share content and communicate with our loved ones and friends. Since social media has a strong presence in our society, millions of people log in every day. It's free of charge and very accessible. And there are pros and cons to the people who use it.
Now Social Media redefines how we at home experience conflicts as we utilize social media every day, so as terrorists. It is easier access to them to form alliances, recruit and spread propaganda. It also makes it easier for the government to track their plans and put them away. But before that happen, propaganda and fake news are already spread among us, and we don't know the truth anymore. The accessibility to apply ideas, graphics, and videos to shape the public transform social media into a strategic weapon. It is low cost, and it can easily influence the heart and mind of the target audience, and it is terrifying. Biases can make people vulnerable to misinformation spread by social media. When you are exposed to a massive amount of content, the accuracy and integrity of this content are questionable. There are a lot of conspiracy theories, fabricated fake news and clickbait content. But the fact that this not credible content is spread so quickly and easily indicates that the algorithms behind social media platforms are vulnerable to manipulation. Social Media algorithms sort posts and content in a user's feed based on their relevancy and behaviour. This means that the content user sees the one they are interested in and relevant to them, and this information that is reaching you might not be accurate or reliable.
"The algorithms actually reward engagement and sharing, to the point that cross-platform sharing from TikTok to Facebook and Twitter, or even WhatsApp, is made incredibly easier for this reason," Mr. Maffin said.
Communication is essential in times of war, and it will create trust and unity among people, especially in times of stress and crisis. Government can use social media to communicate with the people, and it gives the once voiceless people voice and freedom. For example, the Arab spring has driven significant political changes globally. Social media help democratically-minded protesters to share information and organize protests to free themselves from dictatorships. This proves that technology can shape and redefine how we resolve conflicts and start a new ones.
"Social media can be both a good and bad thing in times of crisis, especially like the one happening in Ukraine. It can be a productive place to start political and activist organizing efforts and to report needs to the outside world," - said Julianna Kirschner, lecturer for the Master of Communication Management program at the University of Southern California.
Social media help Ukraine to request supplies and support from private organizations. One example is how Mykhailo Federov ( Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine) reached out to Elon Musk on Twitter to request a satellite internet for Ukraine which Elon Musk responded. Since then, many organizations, companies, and ordinary individuals have supported Ukraine.
While the war between Ukraine and Russia is being called the "TikTok War," it is not the first conflict in the age of social media and not the last one. And All I can say is that it is the most documented war in history.
The social media algorithm is still changing and evolving, attempting to provide the best user experience possible. Though many social media companies remove harmful information, filter fake news, and update community guidelines, Social Media algorithms still influence people worldwide.
Overall social media platforms play a part in the war, and we must ensure that we are careful in using these platforms to ensure that the damage will be minor. Every online user, may it be by serving the country or just logging in to talk to your loved one, must remember that the actions we take online are visible to the mass audience, and for this reason, we must use them with caution.
References:
Suciu, Peter. (March 4, 2022) Navigating Social Media In Wartime – Is The Truth Still The First Casualty Of War? Accessed on May 23, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2022/03/04/navigating-social-media-in-wartime--is-the-truth-still-the-first-casualty-of-war/?sh=580b67a64691.
Temur Durrani and Irene Galea (March 15, 2022) How TikTok and Instagram's algorithms inform — and distort — our understanding of the Ukraine war Accessed on May 23, 2022, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-tiktok-instagram-ukraine-war-misinformation/
Kampf-Aitchison, M (2022).BMC 380- Weeks 1 and 2-course notes, Accessed on May 23, 2022, from https://d2l.ucalgary.ca/d2l/le/content/390203/Home
Image – accessed on May 23, 2022, from https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photo/msid-89781177,imgsize-73252/pic.jpg
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