The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: How Social Media Operates in the Civic Sphere

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter discusses how the very design of social media impacts the civic sphere. Social media is not neutral, and from its algorithms through manipulation and disinformation from its individual users, social media has threatened civic life. This chapter also includes ways in which these concerns have been addressed through media literacy education. Further, this chapter explores two concepts which impact both civic education and social media use: civic perspective-taking and political polarization. The chapter concludes by arguing that students need to be taught about the potential harm of social media, for themselves and the civic sphere, through critical digital citizenship.