By Meryem Aassid, Program Officer, Policy Center for the New South & Michael Stopford, Founder and Managing Partner, Ancored

Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok have transformed political campaigns. Initially leveraged by figures like Obama, social media’s role surged under Donald Trump, who used it extensively to reach supporters. Stopford explains that social media creates "echo chambers," where users engage primarily with like-minded individuals, amplifying confirmation bias and political polarization. Unlike traditional media, which aimed for some level of objectivity, social media often reinforces existing beliefs, contributing to a fragmented information landscape. He also discusses the influence of celebrity endorsements and prominent personalities like Elon Musk, the owner of X, who indirectly shapes online discourse through his stance on free speech. This convergence of social media, celebrity culture, and personal biases poses unique challenges for democracy, highlighting the need to navigate digital spaces carefully during the election season.