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A review in the International Journal of Smart Technology and Learning the research literature on social media surveillance. It highlights how the practice has become a central feature of the digital era and raises pressing ethical, political, and social questions.

Social media surveillance, defined as the monitoring and analysis of individuals' online activity by governments, corporations, and other organizations, exploits the large volumes of data generated daily across social media platforms. It is often justified in terms of national security and law enforcement, epidemiological tracking, but is also used in advertising and market research, and for other even more nefarious purposes. The widespread deployment of social media surveillance has implications for privacy, autonomy, and freedom of expression.

The review used systematic bibliometric analysis to map and evaluate the research literature and so trace how academic discussion on social media surveillance has evolved in recent years. By following the research trends, thematic patterns, and collaborations across fields, the review shows how research on surveillance is inherently multidisciplinary. It spans computer science, sociology, law, political science, ethics, and communication studies, underscoring that surveillance is not merely a technical matter but a socio-technical phenomenon.

A key insight from the study is that the scope of surveillance extends beyond mere technical capacity. It engages ethical considerations about balancing collective security with individual rights and highlights the commercialization of personal data. One recurring concern is algorithmic bias: Automated systems used in surveillance can perpetuate social inequalities, producing outcomes that disadvantage certain groups.

The review also demonstrates that social media surveillance operates on a global scale. Data flows routinely across borders, and monitoring practices often involve cooperation between states and multinational corporations. As a result, issues of data protection, ethical oversight, and regulatory development cannot be resolved within national boundaries alone, demanding coordinated international responses.