By Amber Roberts
Jon Fonseca. (Jon Fonseca)
We asked 4Cs digital marketing specialist Jon Fonseca about his thoughts on whether politics are influenced by social media. Here’s what he had to say:
Q: How do everyday users shape political conversations on social media?
A: I think you have a lot of misinformation spread specifically on Facebook, more than any other platform. I think TikTok does an amazing job of giving you both sides, depending on what content you engage with.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding how AI has affected the spread of information online?
A: I feel like the TikTok audience and Instagram audience are a little better at understanding what AI is. I think there are so many people that are computer illiterate now, and it’s crazy because they kept telling us to watch out for the Internet, and they never caught up.
Q: With the increase of political figures reaching people on social media, do you think this helps spread useful and accurate information?
A: I think, especially with trying to reach a younger demographic and those who are more technologically savvy, TikTok has been perfect. It breaks away from the meta platform. I think Kamala HQ has been phenomenal in engaging their audience and allowing Kamala to do things she wouldn’t be able to do on television or in another forum.
Q: How do you think the tone of political discussions on social media compares to face-to-face discussions?
A: You have your keyboard warriors who are the loudest in the room, but when you meet them on the street, they are totally quiet. Obviously, it’s more prevalent on social media because you can hide behind your screen, especially if you have an account without your real name on it – there’s no identification of you at all.
Q: In what ways do you recommend that people who use social media receive accurate information, especially regarding the upcoming election?
A: I think the biggest thing for now and probably going into the future is you have to do your own research. However, understand that researching the presidential election through traditional American networks is probably going to be skewed. You need to seek out trusted outside sources. Listen to or read something from the BBC, and figure out what other people are saying. It’s about putting everything together and figuring out what that middle ground is, and that’s usually the truth.
