Social media influence, trust, and conflict: An interview based study of leadership perceptions

Across the globe, Social Media continues to be an integral part of our daily lives. This presence has resulted in an ability to influence human behavior in our society and to guide interpersonal interactions on a scale from the individual to the nation. This influence, combined with mounting evidence of manipulation and mistrust indicates an increasing issue for the community. This research study has interviewed a cross-section of leadership from the three domains of Government, Private Industry, and Academia in both technical and non-technical roles. The purpose of the interviews was to gain insights into how leadership approaches the key tenets of Social Media-related influence, trust, and armed conflict and how they intend to handle them. The insights obtained from the interviews are discussed and evidence is provided to guide the community in navigating these issues.