The truth about digital propaganda.

The article explores the impact of digital propaganda on democracy. It discusses various forms of online manipulation, such as misinformation networks, deepfakes, social media bots, and microtargeting. The authors argue that while there are concerns about the influence of digital technologies on elections, the actual effects of digital manipulation are smaller than commonly believed. Research suggests that microtargeting is limited, online political ads have a small impact on voter behavior, and the algorithms behind social media feeds have minimal effects on polarization and political knowledge. The authors emphasize the need for a clear understanding of the problem and caution against panicking, as digital tools can also be used for positive purposes in a healthy democracy. [Extracted from the article]