Examining the Political Divide: How Social Media Shapes Voter Perceptions
Gabriela, a fictional undecided voter, reveals how social media algorithms influence political perceptions as the election approaches. Created as part of a BBC experiment, her curated feeds from TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook showcase starkly different content. On X, she encounters overwhelming support for Donald Trump, including memes and allegations of election fraud, while TikTok emphasizes Kamala Harris’s public persona and issues important to Latinx voters. This digital scrutiny underscores the challenges undecided voters face in navigating a politically charged social media landscape.