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The flames of social media

09 Jan 2021

The scenes in America’s Capitol Hill this week were a stark reminder that superpowers can often fall short of their super credentials. The world’s foremost democracy is facing a chaotic and undignified transition, and the events that unfolded in Washington DC on Wednesday (6) manifested the fragility of democracy and the rise of extremism in its varied forms, even in the heartland of human rights and liberty. But why should the rest of the world care? Because America has been the country that has over the last century, most willingly stepped in to the role of global leadership – using its vast power and influence to push forth democracy around the world, at times even through the use of force. But under Donald Trump, America has chosen to bully, threaten, or just abandon wherever it hasn’t got its way. The US has slowly relinquished its role of global citizen – withdrawing for example from the Paris Accord on Climate Change and even from the World Health Organisation, mid-pandemic. The competitive landscape is changing – there is greater resistance to America. There are ambitious others who – while falling short of American economic and military might – can influence and gather allies around their own centres of power, even though opinions on nations like China, India, and Russia are far more polarised. Meanwhile, America’s traditional allies are embroiled in their own issues, made more complex by the havoc wreaked on them by Covid-19. Underlying the waning strength of the superpowers is the rise in power of media to levels never before seen. Media, especially the newer formats, now have a far greater global footprint and is the new battleground of public opinion and politics. The events in America this week are a remarkable outcome of an entire presidential term fuelling conspiracy theories, igniting the rage of his voter base, and taunting those that dared stand against him. The larger social networks such as Twitter and Facebook took prompt action to block President Trump’s posts during the riots, a move welcomed by most. That these businesses were able to censor the most powerful man in the world is even more telling of the times we are in. It’s time to take serious note of the astounding ability of social media to manipulate public opinion, to reframe truth to suit agendas, to magnify misinformation. In the hands of organised groups, social media becomes weaponised as the ideal tool through which to spread propaganda, which can be amplified with just one flick of a finger. The armoury of the new superpowers consists of tolls and bots and sock puppets dedicated to the sophisticated ploughing of their master’s narrative, directly targeting the desired audiences. The proliferation of smartphones, the availability of data, and the awesome capabilities of the internet combine to be a force for both good and bad in the palm of one’s hand. As 2021 gets off to a dramatic start, it’s important that we acknowledge the tremendous power that we ourselves have conferred on the media. The events in Washington DC are only a microcosm of the disruption that social media-propagated messaging can potentially wreak, by giving legitimacy to misinformation and emboldening those manipulating its inherent features. Sri Lanka is far from ready but at least we have Donald Trump to thank for globally telecasted, real-life evidence of what may potentially be in store.  

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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


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