COM3705 Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 29 October 2025

COM3705 Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 29 October 2025 Question 1 1.1 Introduction The article provided highlights renewed efforts by South Africa and the United States to strengthen diplomatic relations through direct, formal talks. It reflects a wider trend in international relations where social media communication, once viewed as a tool of diplomacy, is now balanced by the need for structured diplomatic engagement. The discussion that follows examines the concept of social media, explains situations where governments can legitimately use it, evaluates whether it was appropriate for President Donald Trump to announce tariffs through social media, and finally analyses the formal channels of communication used when states negotiate and manage their relations. The purpose is to explore the tension between immediacy and institutional procedure in modern diplomacy and to show that, while social media have transformed communication, traditional diplomatic mechanisms remain essential for international legitimacy and stability. 1.2 Definition of social media and an example of US policy messaging Social media refer to web-based platforms and applications that enable users to create, share, and exchange information, ideas, and multimedia content within virtual communities and networks (Kaplan and Haenlein 2010). In political communication, social media provide an interactive space for both governments and citizens to engage in two-way exchanges that were previously limited to traditional media. They function through participatory technologies that allow rapid dissemination of messages, personalised engagement, and immediate feedback. In the context of international relations, social media have become instruments of digital diplomacy the use of digital technologies by states to communicate, build networks, and influence foreign publics (Bjola and Holmes 2015). They allow leaders to bypass bureaucratic hierarchies and reach domestic and international audiences directly. One of the most widely studied examples is the case of former United States President Donald Trump, who used Twitter as his prim