Issues That Determine Utility of Internet

Introduction

The internet and especially social media has a significant influence on the manner people interact and thus affects political environments. Indeed, through social media, it is possible for the public to suffer from partisan animosity and polarization (Duggan & Smith, 2016). Simple conversations in the social media have capacity to move to far distance and affect interaction of people. However, the usefulness of information through social media relies on the attitude of receivers who may in disagreement or agree with its aspects. Political argument has potential to encroach into people lives influencing their partisan bickering or wars (Duggan & Smith, 2016). Navigating through interactions through internet and social media influences formation of online networks composing of friends, families and acquaintances. Research shows that social media forms a reliable platform for engaging in political debates and active users of internet find it relatively useful (Duggan & Smith, 2016). However, there are individuals who find internet annoying because of some people expressing their opposing views to politics. Actually, utility of internet lies on ability of individuals to achieve their needs especially concerning political orientations.  

Issues influencing Utility of the Internet

According to Rainie et.al, (2012) social media is gradually becoming an important platform for engagement in civic and political issues by the Americans. Reports show that about 60% of Americans subscribe to some form of social medial platform (Rainie et.al. 2012). The individuals subscribe to platforms such as twitter and Facebook (Rainie et.al. 2012). Indeed, a significant number of this population uses social media regularly to engage in political activities. The incidence is significantly evident in conservative Republics and Liberal Democrats who identify with their party ideologies (Rainie et.al. 2012). The users usually post thoughts about issues that relates to politics and encouragement of political action. The social media users further follow their political leaders through the social platforms to understand their policies and motivations. The users share with the thoughts of their political leaders and use their sites promote political agenda for their parties. Social media and internet acts as a source of campaign tool to encourage people to participate in political activities especially voting (Rainie et.al. 2012). Through comments on social media, people are able to participate in discussion affecting social or political issues in the country. It is also common to find followers of different political ideologies sharing messages from their parties on their social media platform. The influence is ensuring that such information reach a significant large number of people. 

America electoral competitions provide a scenario of how internet and social media can be effective in influencing a competitive political race (Sheingate, 2016). Better understanding of intentions and dispositions of voting by public forms an innovative technique to conduct campaigns. The digital platforms form a reliable campaigning platform for political works. The technology allows politicians to target their supporters with significantly higher precision within formation that fits their needs (Sheingate, 2016). Actually, in comparison with past platform for campaigns, social media offers a developed mechanism for reaching a wide base of supporters. Politics is a speculative affair and understanding the characteristics of potential is necessary in influencing a win. Through support of internet and social media, candidates are able to communicate their message and gauge the response of the public. The platforms offer an opportunity for followers to search for complete messages that influences their choice during elections. In addition, the internet offers support to candidates through mobilization of their followers to support them through campaign financing (Sheingate, 2016). The platform further mobilizes supporters to spread the message of their leaders to their friends to influence increase in support base.  During 2012 campaigns, a campaign in the social platform called Obama for America helped bring together donors, volunteers and online activist into unified profile (Sheingate, 2016).

Report by Cambridge Analytical group during Trump campaign shows about 50 million social users were available during the electioneering period (Ghosh & Scott, 2018). The reports show that the firm was able to influence psychologically users of social media and especially Facebook in its activities. Indeed, Facebook supported targeted ads on potential voters using social media platforms (Ghosh & Scott, 2018). Actually, the firm was able to possess sensitive personal information from social media users to manipulate their support for Donald Trump. However, the scandal raises questions on how data driven ads could influence the direction of democracy. Facebook report that during the campaign season, Trump used more money in comparison to Clinton thus influencing more targeted ads on Facebook (Ghosh & Scott, 2018). The situation of manipulation personal data in influencing people to vote for Donald Trump shows the power of social media and internet in the age of technological advancement. Digital advertising companies are using social media as target for positing ads that relates to politics with conviction of high probability of their users interacting with them. 

However, use of internet poses online threat to security of nations. The internet does not only limit its applications in political scenario but also in the field of security. The internet has capacity to help security personnel decrypt sensitive information from their enemies enhancing their potential to fight (Hersh, 2010). Currently, through use of internet and technology some countries such as China are able to configure systems that are able to snoop on enemies plans (Hersh, 2010). The access of China to America classified information portrays the danger that use of internet can result to a country. Military leaders in the world, view Chinese penetration on America critical information as a warning of future vulnerabilities internet pose to security. Indeed, such capacity is a challenge of possible attack of military complex or infrastructures in future (Hersh, 2010). However, over relying on military has potential to cause adverse consequences such as intrusion to civil liberties and privacy. 

Conclusion

The internet and social media are important platform that are able to influence the interaction of people and support political engagements. Currently, through social media, politicians are able to reach to their supporters and communicate their agenda. Further, the supporters are able to comment on activities of their political leaders and further spread their agenda to their friends. It is common to find people sharing political information from their leaders. In America campaigns, politicians such as Donald Trump relied heavily on social media to place ads that allowed manipulation of voters’ decisions. However, internet poses online threat as seen with use of China to decrypt sensitive information on America security details. The situation shows that without proper intervention, internet has potential to pose vulnerabilities to security of nations. 

References

Duggan, M. & Smith, A. (2016). The Political Environment on Social Media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved December 12, 2018, from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/10/25/the-political-environment-on-social-media/

Ghosh, D. & Scott, B. (2018). Facebook’s New Controversy Shows How Easily Online Political Ads Can Manipulate You. Time. Retrieved December 12, 2018, from: http://time.com/5197255/facebook-cambridge-analytica-donald-trump-ads-data/

Hersh, S. M. (2010). The online Threat. Should we be Worried About Cyber Threat? The New Yorker. Retrieved December 12, 2018, from: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/11/01/the-online-threat

Rainie, L., Smith, A., Schlozman, K. L., Brady, H. & Verba, S. (2012). Social Media and Political Engagement. Pew Research Center. Retrieved December 12, 2018, from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/10/19/social-media-and-political-engagement/

Sheingate, A. (2016). How Digital Politics Shaped U.S. Elections. Foreign Affairs. Retrieved December 12, 2018, from: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2016-01-18/america-online