It can and does. The power of social media to spread ideas and accelerate political action is why fascists took it over and co-opted it. That's why we're fed the narrative that social media is evil and needs to be regulated or banned at all costs.

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macintux 43 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> That's why we're fed the narrative that social media is evil and needs to be regulated or banned at all costs.

Social media prioritizing algorithms that feed off division and anger is evil.

If Facebook & Twitter were still ways to simply keep in touch with friends, family, and interest groups, I don't think anyone would care (other than the ads).

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dotcoma 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Do you remember cases in which it "accelerated political action" ?

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Natfan 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

famously the Arab spring

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Natfan 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

also BLM, israel palestine

and the genocide in myanmar, that was definitely accelerated political action

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krapp 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

There have been plenty. Surely you aren't arguing that social media has never done so. Arguably social media has been one of the most catalyzing political forces in human history. And bearing in mind that "political action" can be in any direction, I found some examples. I didn't work very hard because this could have literally been a Google search on your part.

Arab Spring

Nepalese Discord Protests

Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine

2009 Iranian presidential election protests

2011 Egyptian revolution

#BlackLivesMatter

#MeToo

Hong Kong protests

#NoKings protests

Yellow Vest protests (France)

Anti-Israel/Pro-Palestine protests

Anti-vaccine protests during COVID

Rohingya genocide

GamerGate

	▲	dotcoma 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The case of Iran in 2009 is notoriously false. See for example what ForeignPolicy has to say about it. More in general, Malcolm Gladwell is not convinced about the power of social media... https://archive.is/GryvI#selection-323.0-355.16