While social media can be a great tool for obtaining information and reaching the younger generations, it can also present misinformation, especially during political seasons. Monmouth College Adjunct Professor with Political Science Robin Johnson, informs the negatives on social media are outweighing the good, which has led to some not running for political office:
“There are some good elements to it, but I think the bad is outweighing the good and it is unfortunate, but that is the world we live in. I am hoping that we can somehow make our way out of this where instead of depending on unnamed sources on social media, maybe just talk to our neighbors a little more. Part of this is the decline of local media and it is harder because our politics have become nationalized even more. Locally, I just hear more and more people who don’t want to run for office and put up with the negative atmosphere, especially on social media and that is unfortunate. We have a lot of people that would be excellent public servants who don’t want to put at risk their livelihoods to hold office because of how viscous and ugly it is on social media and that is harming us in the long run. We need good people to serve on City Councils, County Boards, School Boards, we need competition. Competition is good overall.”
