By Maxim Logue How has the online landscape transformed the dynamics of public opinin formation and communication strategies? Social media has drastically changed the way public opinion is formed. In the past, newspapers, TV, and radio acted as the primary sources of information. Today, platforms like Twitter/X, TikTok, and Instagram allow anyone to become a communicator. The speed of information flow means that ideas true or not can go viral within minutes. Public opinion is now shaped in real-time through hashtags, memes, and trends. Brands, politicians, and influencers use targeted messaging and algorithms to tailor their communication strategies, often aiming to trigger emotional responses rather than present factual arguments. A strong example is the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Social media played a key role in spreading awareness, organizing protests, and pressuring institutions to respond. Strategic use of visual content and hashtags (#BLM) helped fuel a global movement and alter public opinion, especially among younger audiences. How do the Narrative Paradigm and Gatekeeping theories apply to these platforms? The Narrative Paradigm, developed by Walter Fisher, argues that humans are natural storytellers and that people are more likely to be persuaded by a coherent and relatable story than by pure facts. On social media, storytelling is essential—think of Instagram Reels or TikTok videos where creators share personal experiences to engage followers. These narratives help users make sense of complex topics like climate change, politics, or social justice by framing them through individual lived experiences. Meanwhile, Gatekeeping theory refers to the control over what information is published or spread. On social media, gatekeeping is no longer solely in the hands of journalists. Instead, it’s now algorithmic controlled by platform designs that decide what shows up in your feed. This means some voices are amplified, while others are silenced. The rise of misinformation and echo chambers is partly a result of this invisible gatekeeping. Source from Weekly Reading According to Baran and Davis in Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future (2021), “Social media platforms have not eliminated gatekeeping they have simply transferred it to a mix of human users and artificial intelligence” (p. 216). This shift reveals how much influence algorithms have in shaping our worldviews, often without our awareness.