SOCIAL MEDIA HAMMERING DEMOCRACY: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN INFLUENCING ELECTION PROCESS

Abstract

In previous years for free and fair election traditional media acts as watchdog for democratic elections and play a significant role in maintaining democracy. At present social media has become one of the major tools for political elections and political parties to do marketing, attracting people, modifying political affiliation, vote casting intention, reach out to the electorate aiming to alter public opinion, influence and mobilize voters. Social media are new kind of digital information network and information technology communication, utilizing interactive and user-produced content. Social media plays a vital role in facilitating and disseminate the information related to all the matters that have a larger influence on public opinion. social media helps in the strengthen the concept of democracy, it also weakens the democracy worldwide as it provides misinformation and disinformation which hindrance transparency in election process by enabling campaigning and advertising for elections. The study investigates the role and impact of social media on election, perceptions of voters, Indian politics, political efficacy, voting pattern and vote intention in national and international perspective. This present study will examine how social media affects election outcomes and examine the challenges and opportunities presented by the presence of social media on Electoral processes. Further it presents a broad overview of the constitutional provisions and legal frameworks in international and national perspective pertaining to this topic.