Rabat – Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) has published a new study examining how social media is reshaping political communication, including the way political parties use digital platforms and the risks posed by disinformation and algorithmic manipulation.
Titled “Social Media and Political Communication Between Opportunities for Influence and Risks of Disinformation,” the study looks at social media as a space for political expression and citizen mobilization, while examining how platform algorithms can contribute to polarization and the spread of misleading content.
The study also presents a picture of Morocco as an increasingly connected country and examines how disinformation operates in the digital environment.
Narjis Rerhaye, who chairs the working group, said the rapid development of digital technologies has created new challenges for the quality of democratic debate in Morocco. She warned that disinformation and algorithmic manipulation can affect how people perceive political realities.
Rerhaye also raised concerns about what she described as a “democracy under algorithms,” pointing to the lack of transparency around how major platforms distribute content and the concentration of power among large technology companies. She called for greater algorithmic transparency, digital education and access to a wider range of information sources.
The study’s final section focuses on the digital presence of political parties represented in Parliament following the 2021 legislative elections. Researchers collected data between January and May 2026, deliberately choosing a period outside the electoral campaign to avoid the intensity of election activity affecting the results.
How Moroccan parties use social media
The researchers examined the official Facebook pages of 12 political parties and analyzed 2,651 posts. They also reviewed 925 TikTok videos published by six parties, 507 YouTube videos from five parties, and 1,012 posts published by four parties on X. The study also included a separate analysis of the parties’ websites.
The findings show that each platform plays a different role in political communication.
HACA describes Facebook as a central space for interaction with citizens. TikTok has become an important channel for viral visibility, particularly among younger audiences, while YouTube offers parties more room to explain issues through longer and more developed content.
X stands out for its speed, allowing political messages to circulate rapidly within the wider media environment. Political party websites, meanwhile, continue to serve as official institutional sources but attract less citizen engagement.
The study also examines citizen mobilizations in Morocco and abroad that have used social media as public spaces, alongside the role of algorithms in determining what users see.
HACA said the impact of social media on individuals will depend partly on the ability of institutions, civil society and citizens to promote responsible digital practices, address abuses and strengthen digital literacy.
Rerhaye said Morocco needs to develop its own approach to regulation and moderation while balancing national principles with openness, innovation and the protection of individual rights.
The new study builds on work previously published by HACA’s Regulation and Digital Media group, including guides on safer internet use for young people in 2021 and combating disinformation in 2022.
