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What is the most controversial use of digital media in recent history?

Aaron Wickson

The most controversial use of digital media in recent history is certainly the dissemination of fake news and the manipulation of public opinion through social networks.

We live in a world where information is abundant, but not all of it is reliable. Fake news, which is a form of disinformation or propaganda, has been a viral phenomenon in recent years. It consists of creating false stories or modifying existing ones to manipulate or deceive the public. The problem is not only that fake news is widespread, but that it can be difficult to identify and verify. Moreover, it spreads within social networks as wildfire.

A considerable number of cases demonstrate how fake news has affected public opinion. For instance, the 2016 US presidential elections, where false news stories were widely shared across the internet, and it was suggested to be a significant factor in the election's outcome. These false stories ranged from allegations of pedophilia to conspiracy theories. Additionally, the 2020 US Presidential elections were not free from disinformation campaigns that aimed to discredit candidates or mislead voters.

These disinformation campaigns and the spread of fake news have raised ethical and political concerns about the power of social media. Social networks have become battlegrounds where disruptive actors with different aims strive for public opinion's control. They may come from individuals, political parties, foreign powers, or other organizations.

The manipulation of social media as an instrument for political influence rose to the public agenda through the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Cambridge Analytica was a British consulting firm that collects and used personal data from millions of Facebook users without their informed consent to influence political elections. The scandal's reveal in early 2018 impacted the public's perception of Facebook, and some people even question the role of social media in democracy.

Nowadays, social networks have embarked on deleveraging their platforms to prevent the spread of fake news. They have developed programs and tools to flag or remove false content and misinformation. However, the user's responsibility is essential to preventing disinformation from spreading. It is noteworthy to bear in mind that by sharing stories on social media, the user may be giving them credibility and amplifying them.

In conclusion, social networks represent an extraordinary tool to connect people and access invaluable information. Nevertheless, as we have seen, they also represent challenges that must be addressed. Fake news and disinformation campaigns are the most controversial use of digital media in recent history, and they pose a threat to our democracies. Therefore, social networks' role in this regard is crucial, but it is also necessary that the individuals become responsible users to protect the information shared.