A new study by a working group on "regulation and digital media" led by Narges Rghay, a member of the Higher Council for Audiovisual Communication, has highlighted the risks associated with the growing influence of algorithms and disinformation on democratic debate in Morocco. The study, titled "Social Media Platforms and Political Communication: Between Impact and Risks of Disinformation," examines the transformations brought about by digital platforms in democratic life, as well as the risks of disinformation, polarization, and algorithmic manipulation.
The study warns of what it calls "algorithmic democracy," where the opacity of algorithms and the concentration of digital power among internet giants raise concerns about transparency and citizen oversight. According to Rghay, addressing these risks requires regulating transparency, promoting digital media literacy, and ensuring diverse news sources, as disinformation and algorithmic manipulation can negatively impact the quality of democratic dialogue and citizens' perception of the political reality.
The study analyzed the online presence of 12 Moroccan political parties on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X, as well as their official websites, from January to May 2026. The results show a significant disparity in platform usage, with Facebook being the most widely used platform, followed by TikTok, which is increasingly popular among young people. YouTube and X are less used, while official party websites appear to be the least attractive, primarily serving institutional and formal purposes.
The study's findings indicate that Facebook remains a central space for exchanging opinions, communicating, and connecting with citizens, while TikTok is gradually establishing itself as a platform capable of achieving rapid and widespread dissemination, particularly among young people. YouTube offers significant storytelling and interpretation possibilities that have not been adequately exploited by parties, while X is characterized by fast interaction and message transmission within the media sphere.
However, the study emphasizes that the issue goes beyond the parties' ability to gather followers or publish content. The real challenge lies in the quality of political debate produced in this digital environment and the ability of institutions, civil society, and citizens to build a responsible digital culture that limits excesses and promotes media literacy and the ability to distinguish between information and disinformation.
The study concludes that Morocco's challenge is to build a specific system for regulating and controlling this sphere, capable of finding a balance between national constants and the requirements of openness and innovation, on the one hand, and protecting individual rights on the other. This raises a more complex question: who shapes the political debate in the digital age - parties and citizens or algorithms that decide what appears and what disappears?
Key points
- The study warns of the growing influence of algorithms and disinformation on democratic debate in Morocco.
- The study analyzed the online presence of 12 Moroccan political parties on various social media platforms.
- The challenge for Morocco is to build a system for regulating and controlling the digital sphere, balancing national constants and individual rights.
