Media, social media, and fake news

 

Media, social media, and fake news have come to play a significant role in influencing election outcomes. This is significant especially when it comes to the way that they handle a diversity of news. Social media, for example, because of the rapid way through which it ensures the sharing of information, has become one of the most popular means of communication, with the result being that unverifiable information can be used to advance different political agendas. Fake news has spread rapidly through social media and because of the trust that individuals have for such information, very little effort is made to verify it.

A consequence is that a substantial part of the population has ended up being influenced by fake news. This is to such an extent that they have come to believe the information that they get either from media or social media, with the result being that it has become common for individuals to vote for causes propagated by fake news (Quandt et al. 2019). The current political divisions in American society have come about because of the propagation of fake news and the considerable influence that it has on society (Allcott and Gentzkow 2017). The realities of the world have essentially become overshadowed by such news and it has allowed for the election of individuals who in previous generations would have been unelectable.

The fake news that is propagated in social media and media in general has allowed for the creation of an alternative view of life that fails to consider the facts. Consequently, the last two elections in the United States have been greatly influenced by the matter of fake news, as seen in the 2016 elections (Gunther et al. 2019), as well as the promotion of efforts aimed at making sure that there is the revelation of such fake news for what it is, as was the case in the 2020 elections. Therefore, candidates seeking political office have ended up taking advantage of fake news as a means of enhancing their advantage over their opponents.

The changing demographics in the United States

 

The changing demographics in the United States have become a matter of serious concern for the political class. The latte has come about because of the considerable increase in the number of Latinos and other minorities. There has been concern, especially within the Republican Party, that not enough effort has been made to ensure that there is the courting of minority voters, with the result being that most of these individuals end up voting Democrat (Oakford 2015). The significance of this situation can be seen in the manner through which minorities have often sought to ensure that they vote for a party that best secures their interests.

The Republican Party has essentially specialized in making sure that there is the promotion of the interests of the majority white working class population of the United States. There has been a failure to ensure that there is an effective process aimed at integrating minorities into its main structure, with the result being that this party has failed to achieve the goal of enhancing its popularity among minorities (Parker 2015). It is essential to note that because of this scenario, there have been concerns that it would be extremely difficult in future to have a Republican president since the majority of minority communities could potentially end up voting for the Democratic candidates. The significance of this situation can be seen in the way that because of the rapid increase in the minority population in the country, and the decrease of the majority white population, there could be a serious demographic shift in the coming decades.

The Hispanic vote could potentially end up having a great impact on the elections of the United States. It has therefore become necessary for the Republicans to embark on making sure that there is the promotion of a scenario where they seek to attract voters from this minority community as a means of enhancing their advantage. Doubling down in their position as the conservative protectors of white interests could end up backfiring to such an extent that the party might not have a president for a long time. The election of Donald Trump despite the odds against him should be considered an anomaly because of the manner through which he not only stirred the white majority’s fears, but also galvanized them into voting for him (Williams 2016). However, it is noteworthy that the Hispanic or Latino population, as well as that of other minorities is growing significantly and it is only a matter of time before there is a direct challenge to the white dominance over American society.

Partisan Divisions

 

The political divisions in the United States have intensified considerably in the last few decades. This is especially the case when one considers that there has been an increase in political partisanship based on the divisions in the country (Miller and Schofield 2008). One of the reasons behind this problem is that it has come to be based mainly on the manner through which individuals in society view the world. The latter has especially been the case when it comes to the advancement of the divisions between the Republicans and Democrats, with conservatives favoring the former while the liberals favor the latter. It is mainly because of these divisions that it has become impossible to unify the nation especially when it comes to addressing crucial matters.

The partisan divisions have led to considerable polarization, which can be categorized as being urban and rural in nature. The people in the urban areas have shown a tendency towards leaning to the left, which has made many of them seek to support the Democratic Party. Those in rural areas, on the other hand, tend to be more conservative and have come to focus most of their support towards the Republicans (Jacobson 2013). A consequence of this scenario has been that there has been the establishment of an environment within which it is quite difficult for the nation to be unified because of the actions of politicians from the major political parties. Republicans have moved towards the right while the Democrats have moved towards the left, with the result being that the supporters of the political parties have become more partisan than ever; creating a highly combative environment.

The campaign prior to election of President Trump and his subsequent presidency has enhanced the political divisions in the country. This is to such an extent that it has created an environment within which individuals in American society have ended up believing the lies that Trump has propagated, especially conspiracy theories ranging from foreigner being the driving force behind crime and unemployment to the declaration that the 2020 election was rigged (McCann 2020). This scenario has created significant divisions in society that are unlikely to be reconciled for a long time. It has further allowed for the advancement of white nationalism in a highly multicultural and multiethnic America, with the potential of conflict coming about between the various ethnic groups in the country.