How has this online landscape transformed the dynamics of public opinion formation and communication strategies?
I believe that the best way to sum up how the online space has transformed public opinion is through the phrase, 'strike while the iron is hot'. Through the internet anyone is able to communicate with everyone all at once, if I wanted to I could go and talk to someone on the other side of the planet at the press of a button. This interconnectivity given to humanity by the internet also translates to speedy dissemination of information, which leads to my point that the first ones to report the situation more often than not get to be the ones that get to influence the public opinion on the matter.
One such example of this phenomena can be found in the reporting of a Colorado movie theater shooting in 2012, where originally the onsite news reported stated that the shooter has dressed and identified himself as the joker. This simply isn't true however, as the media had simply made up this tidbit and went with it after they found out that the movie at the time of the shooting was for The Dark Knight.
They did this because such a story would get more views and would make the reporting stations more popular, even though it was an act of deceit that still hangs over the batman villain's character till this day.
What ethical considerations should individuals and organizations consider when participating in this battle for public view online?
I believe firstly that these individuals and organizations should at minimum the moral compass required for when it comes to shaping the views of groups of people. There power can be wielded just like a hammer, they can either hammer a nail or crack a skull. They can promote peace and prosperity, or enflame the fear of the masses.
Sources:
https://www.slagledesign.com/blog/2019/1/11/strike-while-the-iron-is-hot
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