16/11/16 - Tech is disrupting all before it – even democracy is in its sights

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/06/technology-disruption-infects-political-system?CMP=share_btn_tw

New apps like Uber and AirBnB are disturbing the corresponding industries. People are suggesting that apps are detrimental rather than useful despite the rise in popularity and positivity aimed at it. There is the suggestion that we are obsessed with disruption and are incredibly compromised yet excited by widespread hacks like the one that took out most internet sites staring in the east coast of the US. It is not only disrupting day to day life but is delving into the world of politics, robot accounts were responsibly for trending the hashtag #TrumpWon after the debates, not actual supporters. we are obsessed with potential wrongdoings regardless of evidence which is why Clinton's emails constantly resurfaced - technology was responsibly for them playing a factor. The fake trump stories made by teenagers wanting money potentially influenced voters and we are stuck in a 'voter bubble' where we only see the things that we like and agree with - rarely getting the other side of the story.

(http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/politics-fact-sheet/)

66% of social media users (39% of American adults) have engaged in one of eight civic or political activities with social media:

• 38% of those who use social networking sites (SNS) or Twitter “like” or promote material related to politics or social issues that others have posted
• 35% have used social networking sites to encourage people to vote
• 34% have used the tools to post their own thoughts or comments on political and social issues
• 33% have used the tools to repost content related to political or social issues that was originally posted by someone else
• 31% have used the tools to encourage other people to take action on a political or social issue
• 28% have used the tools to post links to political stories or articles for others to read
• 21% belong to a group on a social networking site that is involved in political or social issues
• 20% have used the tools to follow elected officials and candidates for office

I think that for everything there is a threat - evening politics the previous threat would have been investigative journalism (Nixon). I personally believe that there is more than what the article is implying. The disruption may be more of a transition from one vital factor of day to day life to another, people are just unwilling to accept the change. Clintons emails would have equated to watergate, Trumps illegitimate trends would have equated to him having control over a newspaper and making them promote him as a candidate. The real distraction is the response and lack of understanding. Or even potentially the bubbles that everyone is putting themselves into.