Samantha Bradshaw

Tracking Political Manipulation Through Social Media - Samantha Bradshaw

Samantha Bradshaw, Craig Cannon

A comprehensive analysis reveals that sophisticated bot networks and platform-specific algorithms have systematically amplified "junk news" and manipulated public opinion, with the United States exhibiting significantly higher disinformation ratios than other democracies. While authoritarian regimes and major platforms historically profited from unregulated engagement, emerging regulatory frameworks like Germany's NetzDG and corporate shifts toward metric transparency are attempting to curb content moderation failures and collateral censorship. Looking ahead, experts warn that social media consolidation and evolving manipulation tactics, including deepfakes in low-literacy environments, pose escalating risks for upcoming global elections, necessitating stronger digital privacy practices and algorithmic oversight to mitigate societal polarization.