Social Media and Politics
Bryce Brinkman
These articles both talk about how social media is such a powerful tool in the upcoming elections, and how more “traditional” political advisors are underestimating it. Mashable.com talks about all the different types and mediums that are being used, remember the “medium is the message.” In comparison, npr.org, talks about how social media is being a huge part of politics and how by the election after this one that we may not even be talking about it because it will be so integrated already.
Starting with Matt Silverman’s article from mashable.com, he goes into depth about how all these new social media tools are helping politicians connect in new ways. They are posting YouTube videos, tweeting multiple times a day, posting pictures on their Facebook page, and radically changing means of “talking” to their voters. He starts of with a great comparison of how when television was first used for campaigning how young employees were given the task of this “new” way of communication. Television would eventually go on to change the way we campaign and with it some people just could not even be a factor in elections. The ones who adapted quickly were the most successful. How close is this comparison to social media today?
Linton Weeks, from npr.org, talks about the chatter around social media and politics in this upcoming election, and how in the one after, that we will not even be discussing it because it will become so integrated into the way we campaign. It can be shocking though to have such an open look into these politician’s lives. I think today’s generation wants to be able to connect closer with the people they are voting for and don’t want just the typical “perfect, professional” image. We want someone we can relate to and in campaigning I know that the “trust” factor is huge and by becoming a online friend with someone that is now the initial way to bulid that trust that can win the votes. He also talks about these politicians are more hands on but cautions them to remember how this is a double-edge sword because you are sharing yourself with the world. People can take comments the wrong way, you cannot control what people say, and you may share more then people want to know. Balance in social media is key.
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Very nice! This had a lot of information about how candidates are using social media to connect with and talk to voters.
ReplyDeleteGreat to read a differing opinion. I wrote an article saying that social media in campaigning is less powerful than some believe. http://wp.me/p1ijsp-2M
ReplyDeleteGreat point on showing the candidates in a candid way, this is where social media really becomes a tool set apart from old media.