Social Media Outrage and Foreign Policy Decisions: A Correlation Study

Abstract

The emergence of social media has significantly changed how foreign policy and international relations are conducted. Diplomatic decision-making, which was hitherto the sole purview of elites, is now quickly scrutinised by the public and emotionally amplified online. To appease home audiences, governments are under increased pressure to implement forceful or symbolic foreign policy responses due to viral indignation sparked by Twitter hashtags, memes, and online campaigns. This research examines the psychological factors underlying this phenomenon, including the erosion of cognitive "cooling-off" intervals during crises, the fear of reputational damage, and emotional contagion. The article illustrates how viral outrage can intensify conflicts, impede diplomatic negotiations, and undermine logical foreign policy decisions by using case studies such as the 2019 India-Pakistan Balakot crisis, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and digital nationalism during the Russia-Ukraine war. This paper argues that social media has evolved into a destabilizing force in crisis management, as well as a tool of digital diplomacy, by integrating concepts from political psychology, public opinion theory, and international relations. Ultimately, the results underscore the need for governments to develop strategies to mitigate the risks of online outrage while striking a balance between the requirements for sustained, strategic diplomacy and the necessity of being responsive to public opinion.