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This chapter reviews digital political communication over the past 25 years, analyses the core characteristics of the fourth wave and examines the changes that communication has undergone during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reviews research on political communication in recent years and, lastly, sets out challenges which we will face in the coming years.
Some of the cross-cutting topics in this chapter are the importance of frames, the power of digital platforms and algorithms as political actors, political bots, the strategy of falsehoods, disinformation, filter bubbles, echo chambers, polarisation and the intensive use of artificial intelligence and big data, hybrid intelligence, and the pursuit of engagement and co-production processes with citizens.​