The democratic role of social media in political debates: The use of Twitter in the first televised US presidential debate of 2016. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robertson, Craig T.; Dutton, William H.; Ackland, Robert; Peng, Tai-Quan
• Is Part Of: Journal of information technology & politics. Volume 16:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Political participation -- live commentary -- social media -- Twitter -- political debates -- democracy -- Fifth Estate; Electronic government information -- Periodicals; Internet in public administration -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; 320.0285
• DOI: 10.1080/19331681.2019.1590283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-1681

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Live social media commentary increasingly accompanies televised political debates. This study examines the democratic role of live Twitter commentary by analyzing a sample of tweets published during the first 2016 presidential debate between Trump and Clinton. The practices of live commenters – including joke-sharing and fact-checking – are assessed in light of six perspectives on the democratic utility of such commentary. Results show that while Twitter commentary was predominantly humorous and driven by negativity towards the candidates, a sizeable proportion of users actively engaged in practices of alternative interpretation, critique, and correction, seeking democratic accountability.