It’s election season. The streets will soon be adorned with green, red, blue and teal – and all the colours of the rainbow – as political parties try to capture your vote. Over recent months, I’ve already encountered leaflets in my letter box and supporters campaigning on the streets.
I’ve even encountered volunteers parading banners and brochures at train stations, advertising their plans to “make Australia better.” But as we enter the season of political campaigns, there can be a lot of noise – some denigrating others and their viewpoints and some potentially misinformed. Does the noise of these campaigns filter through, or does it diverge us from what really matters?
The Crux of Election Time & The Uncertainty
While this time is crucial, as we all have a moral obligation to go to the ballot box, I also feel anxious about the state of views and beliefs, the feeling of polarisation, and the potential lack of unity to come. Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, the election is supposed to be for all, right?
It’s a time when we all get a chance to pick the best candidate who reflects our views and will enact change for the better. But, at times, this can become blurred. You may have noticed that social media, news media, and TV have become vessels for reporting polarised views that can sometimes feel like smear campaigns.
Overall, I feel our algorithms place us in a precarious spot. Ads are pervading our virtual space, telling us why this politician is wrong, with the same rhetoric in an opposing ad closely following. But what does this tell us about the political continuum?
Social Media During Election Time
Now, I can’t say I have all the answers. Still, as a 28-year-old originally from overseas and having studied journalism, I can see a different angle to the political jargon spouted at us when an election looms. One catalyst that may cause apprehension during election time is social media. It’s nothing new.
Studies have shown that social media can influence perceptions and votes during an election by sending us into our own echo chambers that reinforce ideas and beliefs that may not reflect all the facts.
An AMCA study identified that 20% of Aussies consume their news via social media. However, what’s more telling is that a University of Canberra study showed that “60% of Gen Z rely on social media as their main news source.” Yet, the same study highlighted that trust in the news fell to 40%. So, why are people pivoting to social media to get their daily dose of news? Especially when considering the element of distrust. I think it’s time to discuss the misinformation sphere…
Discerning the Right Information in a Sea of Political Views & Misinformation
Many of us may already have our own political personalities, and some may be sitting on the fence. For this audience, social media can play a more significant role in influencing voter behaviour.
Most news sources are heavily involved in social media posting. Renegade self-proclaimed journalists are also firing up their Twitter accounts and refraining from the number one rule in journalism: remain objective. In this day and age, it’s hard to manoeuvre ourselves away from political arguments. It’s even harder not to feel hopeless when our algorithms tactfully show ads that don’t align with our personal views.
”“Much of what happens on social media is not transparent. This makes it hard for users to know how the content they see is shaped and makes it hard for authorities to respond to inappropriate behaviour.”
An enquiry into the impact of social media on the Victorian election
Tactics Used In The Media To Alter Voter Behaviour
Some tactics deployed during election season to influence voters reported by Rutgers involve the saturation and dominance of the following types of stories designed to influence voters:
- Posting about polling results
- Showcasing who’s in the lead (which can influence those sitting on the fence)
- Debate performance
- Amount of fundraising acquired
This news saturation can be designed to make us feel like our own political party is both fading away and trailing well behind the others. While Rutgers’ findings express that losing the race can reduce voters from attending the ballet boxes, that’s not the case in Australia. Legally, we’re all permitted to vote on election day. However, it may make us compromise our loyalty and vote for another party because we have no hope of winning.
In other news, another tactic some news media can use is diverting attention away from the issues at hand. This falls into the performance angle and who’s winning the “horse race”. If we take Trump’s recent campaign as an example, Pew Research Centre said news influencers played a significant part in his re-election. They adopted a more favourable approach to Trump by posting about each candidate rather than the issues they stood for – 12% for Trump compared to 6% for Harris.
The University of Oregon says voters may turn to a news source that aligns with their views. Whether that’s a right-wing, middle-wing, or left-wing outlet, it “can skew towards [our] already-cemented views, preventing [us] from getting a balanced view.”
How to Overcome Election Anxiety
Firstly, election anxiety might be a recently made-up term that doesn’t yet show up in the diagnostic pool, but it’s a genuine feeling people face during election season. So, here’s how you can try and cope with election anxiety (click here to see a more in-depth article we wrote during the US election):
- Focus on what’s in your control and volunteer for your political party
- Abstain from or reduce exposure to social media platforms during election season
- Search for news topics you’re interested in instead of heading straight to their website, which will be embellished with politically focused content.
- Separate people’s political views from the person – especially family and friends as political views can polarise and engender arguments.
- Set boundaries. If you’re trying to avoid political conversations, let people know you’d like to disengage.
- Inherently, everyone has different views, so be respectful and mindful.
How to identify if the information is outdated, incorrect or fake.
A research article featured in Science Advances says: “that people may be particularly vulnerable to believing false claims on social media, given that sharing is a core element of what makes social media ‘social’.”
As a result, misinformation can circle around significant news events like an election, so learning to differentiate between fact and opinion is important. What you can do is learn to identify when you are exposed to misinformation. According to the eSafety Commission:
- Fake news aids political agenda, so review the source’s creditability. If the source appears fishy, doesn’t appear like an authentic news outlet, or the journalist doesn’t have the proper credentials, it’s probably fake news.
- If the story or post appears one-sided, perhaps close or scroll past the story. During election season, the news is rife with op-ed and opinion pieces, which is a standard form of journalism. But it’s essential to recognise when the information isn’t objective.
- If the article is emotionally charged or simplistic, it could be fake. Check the references and see if the headings are sensationalised or if the messaging promotes alarmism.
When Times Get Hard, Converge is Always Here
Overall, election season can present both opportunities to have a voice and challenges in how we use and receive the voices of others. And sadly, we can’t always trust what we read. However, we can protect our mental health during election time by using social media to connect with others rather than be divided. However, if you are struggling with anxiety or apprehension over the next couple of months, and you would like to chat with a counsellor, Converge is always here to help. If we’re your workplace wellbeing provider, you can access free, confidential and expert Care Anytime, Anywhere!
