From likes to leverage: Navigating the diplomatic power of social media and the challenges of legal oversight

This paper dives into the increasingly important role social media plays in modern diplomacy, highlighting both its empowering aspects and the tricky legal challenges it brings along. By looking through the lens of digital diplomacy, it explores how platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta have changed the way states, diplomats, and citizens communicate. While these platforms can really boost influence, they also bring along some new challenges, such as misinformation, political divides, and a decline in the traditional roles of gatekeepers. Additionally, the study highlights the democratising potential of real-time interaction by shedding light on the role social media plays in disaster response and humanitarian activities. However, it stresses the urgent need for clearer legal oversight, especially when it comes to jurisdictional conflicts, content moderation, and holding platforms accountable. This paper takes a close look at regulatory efforts like the EU's Digital Services Act and points out the flaws in voluntary governance. It argues for a global legal framework that's sensitive to different cultures, aiming to encourage the responsible and ethical use of social media in the realm of diplomacy.