As social media has become more prominent, humanity’s ability to comprehend and communicate ideas has greatly decreased. Twitter, Instagram and TikTok influence almost every important aspect of teens’ and adults’ lives. This behavior is especially apparent in the political world. Modern day politicians have to present themselves in a certain way to appease all audiences in order to stand a chance at being elected.

“I knew that as a candidate, I would need an internet presence,” presumptive Missouri State Representative, Kem Smith said. “It’s almost impossible to win without a digital footprint.”

Even the smallest mistakes on social media can lead to a politician’s immediate demise. Young adults and teenagers are so immersed in cancel culture that most current-world politician’s careers ride on their personal histories rather than their administrative policies.

“There is more exposure for candidates who put their foot in their mouths,” Smith said. “Mistakes are broadcast instantly. It’s important to be genuine. But even with consistency, a candidate could face trolls.”

Political careers have also been destroyed by misinformation rapidly spread through media, perhaps even more so than they have by flawed personal history. Entire lifetimes, ruined because of something that isn’t even true. Smith has first-hand experience with this.

“I reposted a video and a friend misinterpreted what was said. She thought I supported Project 2025. Her reaction was swift, angry and 100% incorrect,” Smith said. “If I would have seen her flurry of DMs as they landed in my inbox, we could have had an argument. I’ve noticed that people are quiet about their views for fear of retribution in person. However, they have no fear of taking a fight to social media.”

Social media platforms play a large part in the continuation of the toxic “echo chamber” cycle. Misinformation is hardly ever addressed or corrected. There are self-serving reasons behind why social media heads do nothing to prevent the spread of lies within their platforms.

“A lie goes viral and starts to land as true when it was always false,” Smith said. “These platforms all know they participate in the proliferation of misinformation. However, they are making lots of money.”

The internet has the potential to become a positive resource for new voters, as well as up-and-coming candidates. However, with how things are currently going, there is a strong chance that social media will never reach its true potential as a body of knowledge.

“Constructive social media has to come from constructive people. We all need to curate our social media to highlight the positive. Unfortunately, people crave drama,” Smith said. “They seek out nonsense and share it. Politics, like any other subject, has to be approached with respect for the intelligence of the person who’s speaking.”