Hacking Democracy: What Social Media is Doing to U.S. Politics

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram—some of which did not even exist a decade ago—are playing an increasingly central role in politicians’ efforts to get elected. What does this mean for the American voter?

Join political scientist Travis Ridout to explore the pros and cons of social media in political campaigns. While social media use gives citizens access to a wealth of information, it also exposes them to messages that are carefully tailored and targeted in a highly sophisticated manner. More ominously, social media can be used to psychologically manipulate voters in unprecedented ways, beyond the fact-checking and scrutiny of the news media spotlight.

How real is this latter possibility as we head toward the 2020 presidential campaign? Learn how politicians – and foreign spies – are using social media and personal data to their advantage.

This Humanities Washington talk is presented in partnership with The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service, which educates citizens across the state about democratic institutions and public affairs, and is based at Washington State University. For more information, visit The Foley Institute’s website.

Travis N. Ridout is the Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy at Washington State University. Ridout’s research on political campaigns has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, and in the Journal of Politics. Ridout’s most recent book is Political Advertising in the United States.

To join this online program, you will need a computer, tablet or phone with a camera and microphone. The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants one hour before the program begins.  A phone number will be included to allow you to use a phone as speaker/microphone, if necessary.