Political Fandom and Social Media Code of Ethics

Abstract

This article examines the institutional efforts centered on political parties to offset the negative effects of political fandom that are frequently discussed in the current society. Based on overseas cases, it proposes ‘social media code of ethics’ for political parties in Korea as a way to reduce the negative effects of digital democracy. The Netherlands have already set up an agreement between political parties and online platform users according to IDEA's recommendation, and British political parties are making efforts to prevent the side effects of affective polarization by including social media-related policies in their own rules. Unlike the situation in other countries, there is no content to reduce the political harm of social media in our party constitution, party rules, and ethics regulations. The code of ethics proposed in this article consists of active opposition to hate speech and reckless digital attacks by individual political parties, compliance with responsible digital ethics, and voluntary disciplinary action and punishment in case of non-compliance. The code of ethics, declared in the form of an agreement between political parties, can be a starting point for political parties and politicians to adapt with a responsible attitude in the new change of daily life in political fandom.