Politics, Media and Criminal Justice: What do we believe?

 Social media nowadays plays a role in everyone’s life(most people at least) from opinions and reviews of restaurants to shaping public opinion on political matters. In this case social media holds a role in both politics and criminal justice; it shapes public opinion, influences policy discussions, and brings in more engagement when it comes to political and social issues including those related to criminal justice. Because social media is all around and reaches millions of people daily,  police departments, advocacy groups, and policymakers have started their own profiles/accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. to share updates or campaigns directly to the public by  creating an online presence. It also allows them to stay in touch with the community, which can foster a line of trust between the two.


With the internet and social media reaching millions of people daily it is easy for certain videos to go viral, some of these viral videos can be about things such as police actions, court rulings, or protests even. This allows citizens and communities to hold institutions such as police departments and law offices accountable, as well as influence political pathways. With social media we as patrons of the community get some transparency into the system and are able to hold law institutions accountable. With social media being at all ends of the Earth, political parties and persons have taken to social media to promote themselves as well as their policies. It can aid in influencing which policies people support as well as how elections go. For example the 2024 election was heavily broadcasted online on platforms, and each candidate took to their own platforms to promote their agenda. The publicity candidates can gain from social media nowadays can make or break a campaign and it really does have the wrath though some might not think so. 


Social media, while still a form of media differs from traditional news outlets(media). It is something that is much more accessible to everyone, rather than having to watch the news. People can see short clips summarizing the big stories from the news. This new found form of media includes short clips, viral hashtags, as well as messaging or commenting, something traditional media does not have. Though issues still arise as misinformation or biased narratives can flow through social media. But with social media these biased opinions can spread much quicker which then misinforms much more people and can lead to strong opinions on people. This skews public opinion and perception of certain issues. This skewed opinion due to misinformation can lead to conflict and this can lead to dangerous/ violent scenarios. 


In conclusion social media is reshaping both politics as well as the criminal justice system by increasing transparency, influencing policy decision, and empowering community engagement. With this comes positives and negatives, so therefore people need to be able to understand the power as well as the limitations that comes with this form of media. 


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