MISINFORMATION, SOCIAL MEDIA & THE CRISIS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY HI501-04 Senior Seminar: Media Studies & Popular Culture Graduation Dissertation | Fall 2020 1M150290 KWON, Soongyu School of International Liberal Studies | Waseda University ABSTRACT The main objectives of this paper are as follows: (1) explain the concept of tribalism and describe the relationship that it possesses with American society and politics, (2) discuss how present-day developments in the world of contemporary media have been accelerating the phenomenon of polarization within the United States, (3) present different case studies in which social media has and still continues to have a significant impact on public discussion surrounding current events in America and (4) propose a variety of solutions to the relevant stakeholders who should be held accountable for the problematic status quo so as to help restore the key values of democracy upon which the United States has been founded. The paper will include a personal analysis of certain Netflix documentaries that have reference to two of the recently contested events: Karim Amer and Jehane Nouhaim’s The Great Hack for the 2016 presidential election involving Hillary Rodham Clinton and Donald John Trump, and Jeff Orlowski’s The Social Dilemma for the 2020 presidential election involving Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and Donald John Trump. Not only will it be of assistance to one’s comprehension concerning the background information of what had happened during the entire course of the election, but it will also give strength to the reasoning that social media plays an undeniably important role in shaping the circumstances of the American public sphere. There will also be segments on how the administration of Joe Biden — the newly elected President of the United States — and the inner circle of Donald Trump, the outgoing former president, have been responding to specific affairs that the United States of America has been grappling with: the Black Lives Matter movement and the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. By comparison, one can clearly see how the two figures have been demonstrating varying degrees of leadership in times of crisis, and even reflect on whether or not it will ever be possible for Democrat and Republican blocs to come together. It is highly expected that the paper will serve as an instrument that will foster productive dialogue in order to bring about sociopolitical progress in America. 1 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION 3 1. THE PHENOMENON OF TRIBALISM 3 2. THE PRESENT STATE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 5 3. MOTIVATIONS FOR RESEARCH 9 II. RECENT TRENDS IN MEDIA AND POLITICS 10 1. TRANSFORMATION OF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE 10 2. EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC SPHERE 12 3. GROWTH OF SOCIAL MEDIA 13 4. RISE OF POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT 14 5. PROLIFERATION OF FAKE NEWS 16 III. CASE STUDIES 17 1. 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: HILLARY CLINTON VS DONALD TRUMP 17 1.1. THE GREAT HACK (2016) 19 1.2. #QANON AND #PIZZAGATE 20 1.3. RUSSIA’S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HACK 21 2. 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: JOE BIDEN VS DONALD TRUMP 22 2.1. THE SOCIAL DILEMMA (2020) 23 2.2. PARLER, MEWE, GAB ... 24 2.3. WASHINGTON D.C. PROTESTS AND THE U.S. CAPITOL RIOTS 26 3. BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT 28 3.1. TRUMP’S RESPONSE TO #BLACKLIVESMATTER 30 3.2. BIDEN’S RESPONSE TO #BLACKLIVESMATTER 32 4. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC 34 4.1. TRUMP’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 35 4.2. BIDEN’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 36 IV. SOLUTIONS 37 1. FOR THE INDIVIDUAL 37 2. FOR THE COMPANY 38 3. FOR THE SOCIETY 40 V. CONCLUSION 42 VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY 44 2 I. Introduction 1. The Phenomenon of Tribalism Throughout the course of history, humanity has been and is still locked in a perpetual state of conflict, even though the past and present state of affairs at surface level seemingly suggests that members of the international community are doing the very best of their efforts in order to uphold critical ideas and values such as diversity, equality, and freedom. When one takes a closer look at what is actually taking place, it is clearly apparent that tribalism continues to remain as a pervasive phenomenon across the globe regardless of age, ethnic, gender, or racial boundaries. Now one might wonder how a certain term with possibly primitive connotations (that might be associated with an unknown group of natives hidden away in some distant corner of the world) holds relevant to this day and age, but the answer to the question is not that complex. Even in the 21st century, a wide variety of societies and countries are deeply immersed in tribalism, and one of the areas where there is a striking feature of this trend is none other than politics. In addition, out of 195 sovereign states that currently exist, the country with the status quo in which tribalism is the most apparent is the United States of America. What exactly is tribalism? It refers to either “the state of being organized by, or advocating for, tribes or tribal lifestyles” or “a way of thinking or behaving in which people are loyal to their social group above all else. (Wikipedia, 2020)” What is important here is that even before opening up discussion about tribalism in a much broader context, either social or political, one needs to note that this phenomenon originally stems from a psychologically charged human behavior. So why does tribalism occur in the United States? One valid answer will be rooted in the past of the country. A quick series of lectures on American history is sufficient enough for anyone to notice the fact that even one of the most culturally, economically, and militarily powerful countries on the planet was once a colony under the aggressors of European imperialism until its hard-earned independence. Furthermore, the history of the United States is partially plagued by the dehumanizing, unethical notion of racism, which is based on the brutal black-and-white logic of us and them. What is even more alarming is that it is quite often being used as a tool by the social 3 and political leaders to pit the majority against the minority based on where one is originally from as well as the color of one’s skin. What one needs to keep in mind is although it is not at all impossible for groups to overcome the divide so as to foster productive dialogue for social and political progress, there is still a firm tendency for people to continue to hold onto their beliefs and values without opening up their eyes and ears to the other side. 4 2. The Present State of American Democracy Every so often we come across conflicting remarks in regards to the status quo of the United States of America. On one hand, there is the notion that the United States will continue to be the world’s greatest superpower as it always has been for more than a century, owing to the fact that its strong military, massive economy, and diverse culture entails a sphere of influence that far exceeds its territorial boundaries. In fact, it would not be an overstatement to contend that it is virtually impossible to find any country on earth that does not possess at least some elements of the American cultural and social system. On the contrary — despite it being a recently surging trend — there is also the point of view that America is now hardly living up to its positive images of progress and prosperity. Ever since the turn of the century, the nation has been grappling with an array of economic, political and social crises one after another. A slew of strained relationships with countries that have been founded on either Socialist or Islamic beliefs. The seemingly unclosable chasm between the affluent and the impoverished. An outstanding existence of hostility among varied racial and gender groups. For quite a while, the national identity of the United States has been synonymous with positive connotations. “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your hurdled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (U.S. NPS, 2019)” So many have crossed the waters and skies so as to fulfill their hopes of achieving the American Dream; that they too would be free to enjoy the benefits of positive ideals that the new country is famous for. Basic rights. Human liberty. Equal opportunity. In spite of that, what are the kinds of narratives that are recently being told on the news and other credible sources? Here is the alarming truth; substantial numbers of nationals from both in and outside of the United States are either dissatisfied with living in the country or having second thoughts about maintaining their livelihoods since their hopes and dreams about the American way of life are constantly getting crushed. However, it is conceivable that the most pressing issue at hand is the escalation of polarization that is tearing apart the American populace. 5 It would not be an exaggeration to say that anyone will easily be taken aback by how straightforward it is to find an example of such a case. Without a doubt, the most representative example would be the former United States administration that was spearheaded by Donald John Trump. In fact, while the 45th president took hold of Washington D.C., the contents of the stories that came from worldwide news outlets were undeniably controversial. Take into account the fearmongering rhetoric of the Trump administration in regards to important issues including immigration, the economy, and even the ongoing health crisis.