Digital Democracy: The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse and Electoral Behavior In Parliamentary Elections

Abstract

This study examines the transformative role of social media platforms in shaping political discourse and influencing electoral behavior in parliamentary elections. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and empirical data, this research explores how digital platforms have fundamentally altered the landscape of political communication, citizen engagement, and voting patterns. The findings reveal that social media serves as both a democratizing force that enhances political participation and a polarizing mechanism that can fragment political discourse. The study analyzes the dual nature of social media's impact, examining both its potential to strengthen democratic processes and its capacity to undermine informed decision-making through misinformation and echo chambers.