Social media, across the globe, has made it significantly easier for people to voice their political opinion, discuss issues that plague the society, cause an uproar around causes that matter, and hold the decision-makers accountable. After playing a crucial role during the Arab Spring, an anti-government uprising in the Middle East against the oppressive regimes, it was quickly heralded as the preferred technology medium for liberation.
According to the growing evidence in favor of civic engagement, when people, especially the youth, use social media to discuss the news, they are more likely to indulge in community building activities, like volunteering and voter registration. However, a Pew Research Center study also found that smartphones and web applications are primarily responsible for the ever-widening partisan divide between different political groups.