This presentation discusses whether social media poses a threat to democracy. It presents three arguments: 1) Social media exposes too much personal information, challenging laws around electoral integrity. 2) Platforms like Facebook and Twitter promote hostility and partisanship through toxic discourse and harassment. 3) Social media has potential for hijacking democracy through propaganda and influencing how people think in a particular way. The presentation concludes that social media influences individuals in a way that undermines free and equal democratic values.

1. DEBATE
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
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2. INTRODUCTION
• This presentation consists of the
debate on the topic “ Is social media a
threat for democracy. The
presentation consists of different
arguments.
• Social media helps in connecting
different individuals across the world
in terms of providing tools that helps
in fostering the relationships but also
acts as a barrier to keep the
individuals from preventing to display
the ideas.
• Social media can also have positive yet
negative impacts on the democracy,
ahead are some arguments to prove

3. ARGUMENTS
• Argument #1
There are basic tools related to the Canadian
laws that consists of enforcement measures,
spending restrictions and disclosures and
transparency rules. It exposes the confidential
details and this is not very beneficial for the
nation as it is challenging to ensure the electoral
integrity. The emergence of social media has a
challenging capacity underlying the values and
also regulate online politics. (Margetts, 2018).

4. ARGUMENTS
• Argument #2
The social media platforms like Instagram,
Facebook and twitter have a toxic culture
that degrades the discourse of public and
also helps in promotion of the ideological
chambers that helps in increasing the
hostility and partisanship that of opposing
the social or political views. Harassment
and bullying are new phenomenon for the
social media that is because of maligned
behaviors. It allows the dissemination of
the information (Loader & Mercea, 2012).

5. ARGUMENTS
• Argument #3
Most of the social media sites
have that potential for influencing
the engagement that is needed
for hijacking the democracy that
is needed for influencing the
individuals in terms of thinking in
particular way. It has evolved as a
platforms for propaganda and
fake news that empower
messages, ideologies and voices.
These type of platforms are
holding the hostage of democracy
rather than leading towards equal
and free ideals of democracy for
believing in the support (Helldén

6. CONCLUSION
• This presentation concludes three arguments
related to social media being a threat in terms
of democracy.
• It shows that social media platforms consists of
that influence that influences the decision of
the individuals in the name of free and equal
support.
• It hijacks democracy and potential way of
thinking.

7. REFERENCES
• Margetts, H. (2018). Rethinking democracy with social media. Political
Quarterly, 90(S1).
• Loader, B. D., & Mercea, D. (2012). Social media and democracy.
• Sunstein, C. R. (2018). # Republic. Princeton university press.
• Helldén, E., & Gulliksen, J. (2017). A New Threat to
Democracy. Examining the Democratic Implications of the Social Bot
Phenomenon. L2 Paper. Lund University.