THE ROLE OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS IN DRIVING DIGITAL DEMOCRACY
Keywords:
Social media, Digital democracy, Political participation, Fake news, Public sphereAbstract
This article examines the role of social media networks in driving democracy in the digital era, focusing on the mechanisms and impacts across political, social, and cultural dimensions. Social media platforms serve as a new public sphere where citizens can exchange opinions, monitor state power, mobilize resources for political movements, and cultivate strong digital citizenship. The positive impacts include enhancing political participation, broadening information access, and promoting transparency and accountability. However, negative impacts emerge, such as the spread of fake news, political polarization, and domination by the state or powerful corporations. Case studies from Thailand, the Arab Spring, and the Hong Kong Protests demonstrate that while social media networks possess transformative potential for democracy, outcomes largely depend on political structures and levels of state control in each context. The article proposes key policy recommendations: establishing mechanisms to safeguard digital rights, strengthening media literacy, developing balanced legal frameworks, and fostering cooperation among the state, private sector, and civil society. These strategies aim to ensure that social media networks serve as a constructive force in promoting sustainable democracy.
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