The Role of AI-Generated Political Messaging in Shaping Public Opinion: Ethical and Democratic Implications

Abstract

This study examined the role of social media in political communication, focusing on its influence on political engagement, the spread of misinformation, and public trust in online political discourse. With the increasing reliance on digital platforms for political information, concerns about the credibility of such content and its impact on democratic participation have grown. The study sought to understand how social media affected political engagement, assessed the influence of misinformation on trust in political communication, and explored policy measures to enhance the credibility of online political information. Guided by the agenda-setting theory as its primary theoretical framework developed by McCombs and Shaw (1972), the theory posited that the media played a crucial role in shaping public opinion by influencing what issues people think about and how they perceived them, this study adopted a quantitative research methodology. A structured survey was administered to a sample of 300 respondents across various demographic categories, analysing their social media usage patterns, perceptions of misinformation, and trust levels in online political communication. Findings indicated that social media significantly influenced political engagement, with platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook being the most utilised. However, misinformation remained a critical challenge, as many respondents reported encountering misleading political content, leading to skepticism about the credibility of online information. The study recommended implementing digital literacy programmes to enhance media awareness, strengthening regulatory frameworks for platform accountability, and encouraging civic engagement through verified digital platforms. These measures aimed to mitigate misinformation and foster trust in political communication. Despite limitations such as selfreported data bias, the study underscored the need for continued research on artificial intelligence’s role in shaping online political discourse. The findings contributed to ongoing discussions on social media’s impact on democracy and policy interventions for improving political communication in the digital age.