Social Media & Digital Platforms
Social platforms like Meta, TikTok, and X are central to politics, diplomacy, and public trust. They don’t just host conversations; they shape narratives, influence elections, and determine how conflicts are perceived worldwide. For Israel, these platforms are inseparable from both strategic communication and diplomatic credibility. The flow of information online defines how policies are judged at home and abroad. In democratic societies, elections are increasingly shaped by platform policies on political speech, advertising, and misinformation. Digital governance has become as critical as traditional media or diplomacy in determining legitimacy.
Israel’s digital presence operates in an environment of rising regulation and scrutiny.
Privacy & Compliance: Israel’s Amendment 13 to the Privacy Protection Law introduces GDPR-style obligations, while EU rules under the Digital Services Act impose strict requirements on Meta, TikTok, and others. Meta has already faced fines over its ad consent model, and TikTok is under investigation for illegal advertising practices.
Content Moderation: Platforms use a “Red–Yellow–Green” framework to manage political and conflict-related content. Red: incitement, dehumanization, AI fabrications, or undisclosed political ads removed outright. Yellow: sharp attack ads, conflict footage, unverified election claims, or sensitive fundraising, visible but downranked or flagged. Green: issue education, official voter information, transparent sponsorship, consistent branding.
Election Integrity: Global election cycles have made platforms a frontline in misinformation battles. Misleading fundraising, synthetic media, and false claims about voting processes are high-risk areas. Israel must align with international platform standards to avoid being seen as manipulating narratives.
Trust & Global Distrust: TikTok remains banned on NATO/EU official devices, while Israel’s takedown requests face criticism for overreach. Balancing security concerns with international norms of free expression remains a delicate task.
The influence of social media is no longer measured by reach alone but by trust. Lasting impact requires transparency, responsibility, and adaptability, balancing freedom of expression with regulatory demands. Those who treat digital presence as both a channel of influence and a test of credibility will shape the conversation, not be shaped by it.
