The Evolution of Political Discourse in the Age of Social Media
Abstract
Intersection between blockchain technology and social media governance: a roadmapThe intersection between two digital technologies, blockchain and social media, has attracted much attention. Social media platforms are developed based on specific software applications or digital tools. The back-end software of social media platforms is mainly computer code or software interface design, and data is the basis for interactions within the platform and monetization to take place. By design, technology includes both front-end and back-end components as a source code base. However, it is almost impossible to examine front-end and back-end code explicitly or comprehensively due to barriers created by ownership, regulation or contracts. For example, the algorithms directing which advertisements, news and updates are displayed within the platform are protected as trade secrets. There is often no transparency about the design details of monetized contents, including but not limited to advertisements. Social media companies often choose to keep strategic information confidential to prevent imitation. Furthermore, complexities are embedded within these technologies including algorithms, user interface design, big data management, ad delivery algorithms, and recommendation systems (Kalenzi, 2022). Both the barriers to access to and complexities of technology create obstacles for both public and regulatory scrutiny. At the same time, the technology is not only a market actor, but also influences individuals, society and the public sphere by shaping the way information is communicated, distributed, received, and disseminated (Ellul & Pace, 2019). However, to date there is no comprehensive legal, normative framework at the international or national level that obliges, allows for or supervises public access to these commercial technologies, or even requiring their auditing which could lead to information transparency.
Keywords-blockchain, social media, governance, transparency, algorithms, data management, regulatory scrutiny, information dissemination
