A brave new democracy: Remarks on the impact of social media, algorithms, and AI on politics and citizenship

Authors: Koc-Michalska, K., Lilleker, D.G., Gil de Zúñiga, H., Kalsnes, B.

Journal: New Media and Society

Publication Date: 01/07/2026

Volume: 28

Issue: 7

Pages: 2803-2811

eISSN: 1461-7315

ISSN: 1461-4448

DOI: 10.1177/14614448261445072

Abstract:

Contemporary understandings of democratic citizenship and its role in democracy have evolved over the last few decades, generally in response to periods of societal, political, and communication change. These changes are often connected to challenges associated with globalisation or growing inequality, but also reflect the spread of digital communication technologies, which provide new social and political contexts that call for fresh thinking about citizenship and communication, and how evolving technologies such as algorithm-based social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging synthetic media will sustain or challenge the future of democracy. The proposed collection contributes to theoretical and empirical debates linking the development and employment of AI to citizenship and democratic processes.

Source: Scopus