What are the impacts of WhatsApp on elections? A systematic review (2010-2019)

Abstract

The Brazilian elections of 2018 were marked by a new way of political campaigning. While free political electoral time (HGPE) once reinforced the broadening of coalitions and compelled small parties to be creative in using their radio and TV time, now new technology systems have been heavily used. This article aims to understand how the journals have approached the theme. The main objective is to make a systematic review of publications related to WhatsApp and elections, from 2010 to 2019, in four databases: Scielo, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. The study allows us to say that the analyzed cases and the production on the theme found greater adherence in democratized countries in the context of the “third wave”. Regarding the app's contribution to the strengthening of democracy, opinions are divided between those who point to the danger of using fake news and possible distortions of electoral results and, on the other side, those who observe the app as a way of democratizing access to information.