Week 5 ╰(・∇・╰)
Politics and Social Media
My opinions on politics are rather vague, it can be either a very serious thing that can affect the future of the people and their country or it can be watching a bunch of elder adults bickering at each other. Honestly, I am coming into the ‘age’ where I must know something about politics but I want to give my view on politics in these past few years because as a teenager in Malaysia as so far as I know, it is an adult thing and we shouldn’t join in or much less looked down upon because we lack knowledge of it. However, which social media more open and accessible to everyone, this is actually how I get to know more about politics not only in Malaysia but other countries as well without the hassle of asking the adults on their political view as it can so one sided.
Political voices in social media
In principle, political voice enables people to pursue the goals and aspirations that they value, and to seek redress when an injustice is perceived. As Amartya Sen has argued, the importance of participation in one’s development through open and non-discriminatory processes, to have a say without fear, and to speak up against perceived injustices and wrongs are fundamental freedoms that are integral to one’s wellbeing and quality of life, as how clean politics should be. In my opinions, clean politics does not exist, as humans are manipulative, seek power and recognition as it makes them feel like they did something right and have followers with the same ideology.
However easier said than done, according to Kearney, we are not necessarily getting farther and farther apart, it is just the people in the middle are becoming quieter and more withdrawn. If you fail to consider all the people in the middle who do not care about politics as much, it seems like there is a clearer division when there is not, so social media might be artificially creating this sense that we are becoming more polarized.
Right or wrong of politics in social media?
“Voters generally favor policies that enhance their own well-being with little consideration for that of future generations or for long-term outcomes. Politicians are rewarded for pandering to voters’ immediate demands and desires…” said by Dambisa Moyo in her book Dead Aid (2009).
In social media, the proliferation of personalized media diets increasingly means that voters cling to their own facts, assumptions, and beliefs. By “media diets”, people live in their own “bubble”, only listening to like-minded people.
So, in the end, is it right or wrong? There is no right or wrong, everyone is different, different ideology, different preference and many more different from each other. It is just the matter of fact who is capable and competent to lead a country and everyone just wants benefits from the government to survive in society.
However, the sad thing is what I believe, what if none of the politicians are good? Do u vote for the worse or the less bad? It limits the choice in a way that it either divides people or connects people. Are the people manipulated by politicians on social media? Are the people thinking for themselves or others? These are questions I ask myself and I still can’t answer them today.
