How Social Media and Misinformation Broke Our Trust
In 2018, a bombshell hit the world of social media and politics. A company called Cambridge Analytica had quietly gathered personal data from millions of Facebook users—without their permission. This data was then used to target voters with political ads during the 2016 election, trying to influence how people voted based on their online behavior.
But that wasn’t the only concern. Around the same time, we learned that Russian operatives had created fake social media accounts and flooded platforms like Facebook and Twitter with false stories, inflammatory memes, and divisive content. The goal? To stir up anger, confusion, and mistrust among Americans.
Suddenly, it was clear that the internet wasn’t just a place to share vacation photos or cat videos. It had become a powerful political weapon—and a dangerous one.
Big Tech’s Power, Our Rights at Risk
The Cambridge Analytica scandal pulled back the curtain on how much power big tech companies really have. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (now X) weren’t just neutral spaces—they were shaping what people saw, thought, and believed.
Their algorithms—designed to keep users scrolling—often prioritized the most emotional, extreme, or shocking content. That meant false information spread faster than the truth. It also meant people were being shown only what they already agreed with, trapping them in what we now call echo chambers. Over time, this made people more divided, more suspicious, and less willing to talk to each other.
Civil rights were also caught in the crossfire. Misinformation targeted minority communities with lies about voting dates, polling locations, and candidates. Voter suppression in the digital age didn’t always look like someone blocking a polling place—it could now come through a meme or a tweet.
A Divided Nation
The fallout from these revelations was intense. Some people demanded accountability and stronger rules for tech companies. They called for better privacy protections, transparency about how content is promoted, and limits on how political ads are targeted.
But others saw these efforts as censorship or government overreach. Fueled by conspiracy theories, they believed social media was silencing conservative voices or hiding “the truth.”
That split—between those who wanted regulation and those who feared it—deepened America’s political divide. And because so much of this battle played out on social media, the cycle kept repeating: more outrage, more mistrust, more division.
Where Do We Go From Here?
What happened in 2018 wasn’t just a tech issue—it raised serious questions. When large companies can collect personal data, shape what information we see, and spread misleading content with little oversight, it can quietly chip away at the foundations of a healthy democracy.
But it’s not too late. We can push for better laws that protect our privacy and our votes. We can demand that tech companies be more transparent about how their platforms work. And most of all, we can slow down, ask questions, and think critically before we click share.
Because the truth shouldn’t be a casualty of convenience—and democracy shouldn’t be a casualty of profit.