Opening Speech: Gábor Horn (Chairman of the Board, Republikon Institute)
First panel:
Birkás Péter:
Social media can have both positive and negative effects on people. It connects individuals—he himself made good friends through Twitter, an acquaintance found their spouse via social media, and even his cat became the model for a Marvel comic book character thanks to it. However, social platforms also have harmful effects. People lose their sense of self. We constantly compare ourselves to the curated lives others showcase online, even though these portrayals are not reality. For example, we might visit a restaurant just to take a good photo for social media. It's important not to follow trends blindly or compare ourselves to others; we should remain true to ourselves. The advancement of technology and social media go hand in hand. As smartphones became more sophisticated, the demand for high-quality cameras and constant internet access grew. People want to stay online and create content. Filters emerged to enhance the appearance of social media images. Another shift in media consumption due to technology is the rise of vertical videos, fueled by mobile recording. Social platforms prioritize keeping interactions within their own ecosystem. As a result, posts containing links that direct users elsewhere are deprioritized by algorithms. Social connections in the digital space are now an irreversible part of progress, though some people remain passive users of social media.
Krisztina Kende-Hoffer:
Social media offers vast opportunities for individuals and businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. It opens the world to people, but we must be mindful of verifying the credibility of news and information. Users themselves are responsible for the harm social media can cause. We need to develop awareness regarding our content consumption. The RAS system (Reticular Activating System) is the brain’s filtering mechanism—when we focus on something, we start noticing it more often. Social media algorithms work similarly, meaning conscious content consumption can shape a more positive and useful feed. In communication, social media fosters the KISS principle ("Keep It Simple and Stupid"), requiring content to be concise and easy to grasp. Media literacy should start at a young age—not necessarily through restriction, but by teaching children how to use social media to their advantage. For Krisztina, social media is both a work tool and a free communication platform. People should not compare themselves to others but instead be aware of who they are, what they want, and what makes them unique. Human connections should not be neglected—personal interactions are essential. While individuals can opt out of social media, for professionals like politicians, it has become a necessity. Facebook is now rarely used for private communication, except among older generations. The distinction between personal and professional life is increasingly blurred due to technological advancements, particularly remote work, which affects journalists significantly.
Szilárd Teczár:
Social media has transformed our entire lives, providing an overwhelming amount of information. Journalism today is no longer as challenging due to the "information tsunami" of the digital age. However, this flood of data requires careful filtering, distinguishing between important and irrelevant information—a difficult task. Unlike traditional media, online content is harder to verify. Digital journalism must adapt its style to fit new media consumption habits. Contrary to other panelists, Szilárd believes we may not have full control over algorithms. Unwanted content often appears in our feeds, indicating a fundamental issue with algorithms that should grant users more autonomy. He cites the Romanian elections as an example of algorithmic influence spiraling out of control. In online journalism, article titles must be adjusted because social media algorithms cannot differentiate between hate speech and legitimate news. As a result, articles often have different headlines on Facebook than on their original websites. Since more people now rely on social media for news, these issues need urgent attention. Supporting independent media and proper education could help foster a more conscious user base. Critical thinking among young people is vital—it would allow them to consume online content more responsibly. Teaching mindful media consumption should be part of mental hygiene training to prevent the negative effects of social media from harming individuals.
Gábor Wolf:
Social media has enabled many people to pursue their dreams. It has been a game-changer for small business owners, allowing them to start their ventures even while maintaining other jobs. Before social media, people spent time reflecting when traveling. Now, technology keeps them glued to their phones. Many are shocked by the content in their feeds, but as Gábor puts it, "Show me your feed, and I'll tell you who you are." Each person is responsible for the content they consume. From a business perspective, targeting the right audience is key. Ads and company communication need a tabloid-style approach to engage users. Algorithms determine post visibility based on multiple factors, including initial engagement within a user’s immediate network and how long people linger on a post. If a post performs well in its test audience, the algorithm shows it to a broader audience. People crave predictability and fear the unfamiliar. Yet, technological advancements happen rapidly. The challenge is learning how to leverage these innovations. While opting out of social media is a personal choice, Gábor notes that many of his acquaintances are only on social platforms for communication purposes. However, societal pressure should not force anyone into content creation. Learning to use new tools is an innovative process with no established rulebook. Personal responsibility remains crucial in navigating the digital landscape.
Second panel:
In the second part of the Republikon Institute’s event “My Country for a Like” on 6 March, Márton Bene, Balázs Böcskei, Gábor Polyák and Viktor Szigetvári discussed the impact of social media on public life and politics.
Regarding the question of how social media has changed politics, the experts agreed that it has brought significant transformations. Márton Bene argued that the biggest changes have occurred in terms of accessibility, and added that social media itself has evolved with the phenomenon of “TikTokization”, which creates space for a different kind of social organization. According to Balázs Böcskei, with the rise of social media, the storytelling aspect of politics – the narrative - has been pushed into the background. Viktor Szigetvári continued by stating that the internet has broadened access to a wider segment of the population, a point that Gábor Polyák agreed with. Polyák added that never before has so much information reached people at such a rapid pace, transforming not only news consumption, but also the way politicians present themselves in the public sphere. Due to social media, the journalistic question has disappeared from public discourse, Polyák continued, meaning that politicians “say their piece” without any feedback. Polyák also warned the audience that never before have there been such monopolistic players in the media.
The next question concerned the consumption of political content: Do people engage more or less with politics? And why do negative news stories dominate? Márton Bene was the first to respond, arguing that social media initially played a mobilizing role, but this has changed with the “TikTokization” of content. As platforms operating on TikTok’s logic have spread, social media’s role in channeling people into politics has diminished and closed off, as algorithms categorize users into specific interest clusters, making the space more insular. Bene also added that the dominance of negative news can be explained by the fact that anger leads to communication, or to a will of communication, and when this happens in a political context, others are more likely to engage.
Answering the question, Viktor Szigetvári said he does not believe people engage more in politics. While politicians can increase their reach and visibility, mobilization and encouraging active participation are much more challenging. Regarding negative news, he argued that they are not the only type of rapidly spreading news. However, Balázs Böcskei suggested that a general sense of insecurity exists these days, which the online space amplifies, making it unsurprising that negative news spreads more widely. This somewhat resonated with Gábor Polyák’s explanation, who linked the spread of negative news to an evolutionary perspective: we fear uncertainty and danger.
Next, the experts discussed what it takes to turn a like into political success, activism. According to Viktor Szigetvári, active, organic engagement and a high number of likes can be associated with social support. However, a like represents a momentary identification, not a vote – though it can potentially be converted into one. Márton Bene approached the question from a different perspective. He argued that a like is essentially a vote, as those who publicly align themselves with a politician are usually already supporters. Bene emphasized that generating many likes is important because it helps politicians reach people who are not yet their voters. However, he added that a like will only translate into a vote if the audience can also connect with the content on a deeper level.
Balázs Böcskei partially agreed, stating that if a politician cannot create meaningful interactions beyond likes, they risk becoming dull and losing authority. Gábor Polyák also concurred, emphasizing that a political career does not start with likes but rather with seizing a moment or an opportunity – a gap that, as seen in the case of Péter Magyar, can be effectively leveraged.
The final topic discussed by the participants was the 2026 election campaign. Viktor Szigetvári began by stating that social media is a necessary tool that must be used and invested in, but money alone will not solve everything. He added that Google’s announced ban on political ads will reshape the 2026 campaign, making social media even more central. This also means that dependency on those controlling algorithms will increase further. He noted that there is still no effective response to disinformation, a point Márton Bene also agreed with. Bene elaborated that the key to the 2026 campaign will be reaching swing voters, who have become harder to engage due to the transformation of social media. Therefore, the role of an active citizen base will be crucial. Regarding TikTok, Gábor Polyák added that the platform will be essential in reaching younger voters.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
