The growing influence of social media, particularly platforms like Twitter, in the political landscape has become a major concern. In South Africa, recent elections have highlighted the impact of Twitter on public perception of political parties and leaders. The figures revealed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research speak for themselves: more than a million tweets were sent during the elections, with only 115,000 unique authors.
There is no denying that Twitter represents a minority voice, but its presence and influence cannot be understated. The platform has become a privileged space for political enthusiasts, mainstream media, political analysts, as well as dissenting voices who have contributed to distorting the perception of the political landscape in South Africa.
Statistics show that the most mentioned party was the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), followed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Party (DA). Parties like ActionSA and Rise Mzansi were also among the most mentioned, although they experienced disappointing election results. These data raise the question of the real impact of social networks, and in particular Twitter, on elections and on the general public’s perception of politics.
The most mentioned political leaders on Twitter were Herman Mashaba of ActionSA, Gayton Mackenzie of the Patriotic Alliance and Mmusi Maimane of Build One South Africa. Despite this visibility on social networks, some of these leaders failed to obtain the expected electoral support during the elections. This raises questions about how effective political communication on social media really is and how it can influence electoral outcomes.
The gap between perceived influence on social media and actual election results also raises concerns about misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion. It is crucial to evaluate and regulate political conversations on social media to ensure informed, fact-based debate.
In conclusion, social media, and in particular Twitter, can play an important role in political debate and citizen awareness, but there is a need to approach them critically and promote evidence-based discussions. The future of social media politics will depend on the ability to separate fact from fiction and encourage constructive, informed dialogue among citizens.
Encouraging responsible use of social media is essential to strengthening democracy and promoting meaningful civic engagement.