The purpose of this essay is to develop a better understanding of the impacts of social media as it relates to political debate. By examining the topic of social media and the use of rhetoric in response to 21st century politics, a deeper understanding of the issue can be established. Social media has become a primary source of political discussion for the average citizen; whether through sharing articles, memes, advertisements or personal statements. As a result, large amounts of information and ideas are rapidly disseminated on a wide variety of topics. However, much of this information may not be accurate and may be misinterpreted. Therefore, potentially uninformed citizens may not be able to make a good choice. The recent Canadian federal election resulted in a wide range of biased and misinformed posts on social media. These posts often tend to give rise to lively discussions and debates. By interpreting the accuracy of the information presented, as well as the context of the situation, including personal opinion, we can develop an understanding of individuals' use of rhetoric and discourse as it relates to political debate. In addition to this primary source, a variety of articles discussing the use of rhetoric on social media, as well as the use of social media in a political context, will be discussed. Many articles may discuss social media and its implications for society and privacy, but fewer articles delve into the effects that social media may have on citizens' political perspectives. The use of language on social media, especially among younger generations, tends to be rudimentary and, therefore, may not be apt to represent the issue. This tends to leave the discussion open to personal interpretation and often leads to misinformation. By examining the use of rhetoric on social media in general, as well as the use of social media for political debate, I intend to develop and support this approach.