With the dust still settling from the 2024 U.S. presidential election, social media continues to shape political discourse, weaving tales of triumph, despair, and everything in between. A noticeable shift is apparent as the right gears up to seize control of the narrative, after former President Donald Trump's resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Social media has played—and continues to play—a pivotal role, but the battleground appears decidedly skewed.
After the election, the right-wing social platforms exploded with celebration. Trump supporters flooded platforms like Truth Social, where they shared hundreds of thousands of posts praising his return to the White House. This fervor stood in stark juxtaposition to the muted online presence of the left. Major platforms like Meta’s Instagram, Threads, and Facebook had actively de-emphasized political content, leaving Democrats without similar safe spaces.
Political consultant Phillip Walzak pointed out this discrepancy, stating, “It has become starkly evident the left, the Democrats, do not have the same social media platforms to push their agenda.” The lack of engagement on platforms like X—formerly Twitter—compounded their challenge.
Following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, some social networks opted to ban Trump and his supporters, which led to the creation of right-leaning alternative platforms. These new spaces allowed conservative commentators and influencers to thrive and significantly increased their online followings. Consequently, when mainstream sites later welcomed Trump back, they discovered the right had already established commanding presences.
The consequences of this shift became glaringly evident on Election Day. Trump’s posts on social media captured significantly more engagement than Harris’s. For example, during the lead-up to November 5, Trump’s messages urging voting were shared and liked by far more users than those of Harris. One of his posts on Facebook received nearly 160,000 likes, whereas Harris’s most popular post garnered 18,000 likes. The differential was equally startling on platforms like Instagram and X.
This trend is not merely reflective of individual charisma or the popularity of specific candidates. Joan Donovan, the founder of the Critical Internet Studies Institute at Boston University, explained, “The right was very clear in establishing their media spaces. It was very savvy and intentional.” Meanwhile, many Democrats found themselves attempting to navigate what many perceived as hostile environments.
With online discussions leaning right, the filtering of misinformation also took center stage during the election process. For example, claims emerged alleging Starlink, the satellite internet service controlled by Elon Musk, influenced voting machines. Posts on platforms across the internet propagated these assertions, igniting heated debates. Misinformation combined with genuine anxiety about election integrity has added layers of complexity to America’s political discussions.
Experts investigating the claims elucidated how Starlink improved communication leverage for certain regions during the election. For example, the service was reported to help connect electronic poll books and assist underserved regions, ensuring efficient voter check-ins. Verification from independent organizations confirmed, nonetheless, there is zero evidence connecting Starlink to vote tallying or manipulation.
According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the vast majority of voting systems aren’t linked to the internet during elections. This safeguard aims to prevent foreign interference, such as what the FBI has since flagged concerning threats from Russia and Iran. Such miscommunications risk stoking fears, leading to mistrust among voters.
This encounter with misinformation is not novel; it mirrors patterns observed following previous elections. The 2020 election saw rampant conspiracy theories surrounding the reliability of voting technology. Following the 2024 election, both sides seized upon claims of election fraud and manipulation, highlighting how narratives evolve and adapt.
On social media platforms, unrestricted speculation transformed chaos and confusion around perceived voting irregularities, echoing sentiments from conspiracy theories proposed by some left-wing media. Events rapidly shifted to what some characterized as “leftist election denialism,” reflecting how angst can spur both right and left to allege falsehoods when their expectations go unmet.
Interestingly, Democratic strategists have internalized this problem, acknowledging the need to bolster their online infrastructure. Attempts to create comparable platforms like Truth Social have been few and far between. With discussions atop many political circles, it’s clear Democrats recognized the urgency of addressing this technological gap. The evident disparity cannot be ignored, especially if they want to engage effectively with their constituents.
Even popular faces within the left have began to explore new territories, signaling some adaptation to the shifting digital environment. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has promoted platforms like Bluesky, which has gained traction since the election, garnering over one million users.
Some specialists argue it’s not merely about creating new spaces but rather establishing vibrant communities focused on progressive values. Social media managers must carefully weave agendas and align with audiences who feel disbanded by mainstream platforms.
The culmination of facts and narratives surrounding the election exposes deep-seated fears, aspirations, and systemic barriers to communication. Political leaders, influencers, and everyday citizens continue to grapple with the reality of their social environments, where trust and engagement ebb and flow.
The digital age engenders new challenges daily, leaving the political sphere at the mercy of trends, influential figures, and the rapid circulation of information. Balancing between progressivism and technological innovation will serve as the new battleground, as overt political affiliations grapple for dominance.
Many question the ethics surrounding the influence of technology on democracy itself. These complications call for responsible stewardship of social media platforms, ensuring they promote dialogue rather than division. Continued surveillance and responsibility moving forward may designate how future elections play out amid this incessant digital backdrop.
The aftermath of the 2024 election will likely redefine not only America’s political climate but also reconfigure the virtual landscapes where ideas flourish and narratives morph. Whether or not Democrats find their footing to establish their digital stronghold remains to be seen, but the need for unity, clarity, and cohesion resonates as the next election looms forward.
