SOCIAL NETWORKS AS A NEW PUBLIC SPACE AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE BRAZILIAN ELECTORAL PROCESS

Abstract

The rise of social media as the primary means of interaction and communication in contemporary society has brought about significant changes in political dynamics, especially in the Brazilian democratic landscape. These digital platforms have come to play a fundamental role in the dissemination of information, social mobilization, and citizen participation in public debates, transforming the virtual environment into an important space for political expression and opinion formation. In this context, this study seeks to analyze the influence of social media on Brazilian electoral processes, focusing on the impacts generated by recommendation algorithms, the circulation of fake news, the formation of homogeneous informational groups (digital bubbles), and the increase in political polarization. The theoretical framework is based on research related to digital democracy, political communication, the functioning of algorithms, and data governance, as well as current legislation, with emphasis on the General Data Protection Law (LGPD). Regarding methodological procedures, a qualitative bibliographic research was conducted, using scientific articles, books, official documents, and recent academic publications on the subject. The results demonstrate that, although social networks contribute to broadening access to information and strengthening the population's political participation, they also favor the dissemination of misleading content, the segmentation of the public by specific interests, and the deepening of ideological polarization. It is concluded that maintaining a healthy democratic environment in the digital context requires the implementation of regulatory and technological measures capable of ensuring greater transparency in algorithmic systems, preserving freedom of expression, and guaranteeing the protection of the fundamental rights of users of digital platforms.