The War of Narratives in the Age of Social Media: The Competition between Iran and the US-Israel in the Field of Public Opinion

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In the present era, wars are no longer decided solely in military arenas; rather, “media war,” especially in the context of social media, is one of the most important arenas for shaping global public opinion. In the meantime, the conflict between Iran and the United States of America-Israel can be considered prominent examples of the simultaneous use of hard and soft power.

In this confrontation, Iran has tried to counter discourses such as “seeking justice,” “resistance,” and “defending the oppressed.” This narrative creation has taken place through social media platforms and new communication tools, and its goal has been to attract public sympathy, especially among the nations of the so-called “free world.” In this direction, the exploitation of artificial intelligence and generative capabilities has played an important role in strengthening this narrative.

In contrast, Western governments, especially during the US presidency, have tried to establish their narrative on this issue by relying on mainstream media and public diplomacy tools. However, the expansion of social networks and the reduction of media monopoly have made alternative narratives more likely to emerge and have an impact.

One of the key features of contemporary media warfare is “message personalization” and “precise audience targeting.” In this context, the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence tools has enabled macro analysis and more precise recognition of public opinion trends. By taking advantage of these capacities, Iran can adjust its messages to be more consistent with these cultural, political, and human audiences in different regions of the world.

In summary, I can say that media warfare and social networks, as a complement to military power, play a decisive role in giving other countries a head start. The experience of this conflict shows that in today's world, achieving "narrative superiority" is as important as victory on the battlefield, and can even change the course of political developments and public opinion in general.