How social media turning us into populist beings

Rusaid Ahmed :

Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, the world has been witnessing an astonishing technological revolution—in which social media has emerged as a central governing force.

Previously, newspapers, radio, and television served as the primary producers of messages for audiences.

But over time, this responsibility has gradually shifted onto the shoulders of social media platforms.

Today, social media is no longer confining global citizens to the role of mere consumers of information.

Instead, it has evolved into a universal space, where people simultaneously produce and consume countless forms of messages and citizen journalistic components.

As a result, individuals of all ages are now cultivating their own distinct digital identities within an “artificial online universe.”

By generating and promoting their own content, they often present themselves as a type of “cult persona”—a projection that frequently bears little resemblance to their true behavior and lived reality.

In socio-political contexts, populist groups typically portray themselves as the only “honest, pure, and righteous” voices.

Similarly, social media users increasingly feel compelled to maintain a “clean image” on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

Just as political populists rely on dramatic speeches to maintain influence, many users dream of becoming “social influencers” by producing eye-catching content in the hope of going viral.

Meanwhile, urgent issues such as unemployment, misguided development policies, declining standards of life, and structural socio-economic challenges rarely find space in our public conversations.

As a result, being entangled in populism’s seductive trap, societies repeatedly lose focus on collective welfare and sustainable progress initiatives.

According to a January 2024 survey conducted by Meltwater—a Media Observatory Organization and We Are Social—a Social Media Organization, 62.3 per cent of the global population is now active on social media platforms.

With continuous updates, new features, and evolving platform dynamics, the number has almost certainly grown even higher by the end of this year.

This widespread integration of social platforms into daily life makes it increasingly difficult to separate reality from performance, authenticity from spectacle.

If users can learn to regulate their digital impulses, social media can indeed serve the greater good of societies and nations.

For this, we must remember a crucial fact: social media is a medium for connection—not a stage for populism.

Before sharing anything, users must verify its authenticity. When creating content, one must respect basic social ethics, cultural norms, and community standards.

And to sustain the forward march of humanity, we must raise our voices against corruption, injustice, and social irregularities in this atmosphere constructively.

Only then, we will be able to transform every social media space into a humane, responsible, and progressive digital realm—capable of enriching lives instead of distorting them.

(The writer is a student, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur. Email: [email protected])