Social Effects Of Political Persuasion

Social Influence, Persuasion, and Politics
The Social Effects of Political Persuasion
Mackenzie Johnson
Campbell University

The Social Effects of Political Persuasion Do you ever stop to think about how powerful modern day technology is? Nowadays, technology is way more influential and persuasive. Everywhere you look there is some kind of advertisement or promotion being broadcast by the use of technology. The overwhelming use of technology allows people to be influenced and persuaded much more easily. Before, information was either passed along by word of mouth or it took a while for posters and commercials to be produced but now it takes one click of the mouse to spread the word about anything. It takes little
Due to the fact that people are becoming more and more attached to social media rather than interpersonal relationships, they are making themselves vulnerable to online political influence and persuasion. Individuals who live through social media have made themselves dependent on information that is provided to them on their select networks. They also are more likely to trust what they read online rather than what they may hear directly from a political leader first hand. Those who are more likely to generate replies, begin conversations, and distribute information are the main persuaders throughout all media. These persuaders are referred to as “prosumers” which is the combination of producers and consumers. This word choice was chosen because these individuals are supplying user-generated content online while at the same time-consuming information as well. Researchers believe that if these prosumers continue to use social media as they do then they will eventually begin to engage in politics more and more. After a while, these social media prosumers will acknowledge themselves as actual opinion leaders. An online leader is described as someone who is engaging in larger levels of media exposure and tends to hold a greater position in social networks. Opinion leaders indirectly
Social media is described as the potential space of interaction where citizens are simultaneously exposed to news and the views of people in their social network. While most people use social media only to receive friendly updates, obtain emotional support, or to flip through photos and videos they may also be subject to political persuasion without any knowledge of it. Frequently citizens are influenced by news media and/or social context when forming their own conclusions about politics. Usually political persuasion is achieved through the conversations people have because they can ignite disagreement, which in return leads to someone being influenced to change their views. The Internet and social media are also considered to be heterogeneous networks for the reason that it is very diverse. This diversity can attribute to the fact that people are shown alternate views on politics, which of course leads to the persuasion of change. Once an individual has been exposed to new viewpoints it boosts their demand for new information that supports their current thoughts and beliefs. Both disagreement and diversity go hand and hand with each other. Such a diverse network can lead to disagreement among people who believe that their thoughts are true and others are false. The diversity urges people to seek new views and more information, contemplate their own