Public opinion consists of the desires, wants and thinking of the majority of the people. ... For the first time, it became important what people thought as forms of political contention changed. Democracy requires public opinion because it derives authority from the public
While research doesn't show that social media has a lot of influence over voter behavior, Horning says it does show that it can shape public opinion. ... “Social media companies have to weigh the public's interest in free-speech with a need to monitor the flows of misinformatio