The Effects of Twitter on Politics
If you hadn’t already figured it out, Twitter has had an effect on our society in many different ways. From saving lives to keeping in touch with loved ones, Twitter is one of the more influential and accessible social networking websites. In fact, Twitter has even had a direct on politics, as we have learned from the 2008 Presidential election.
Twitter is an excellent way to keep readers informed and current with the goings on of anyone’s daily life and that means it’s an ideal solution for politicians. Twitter allows politicians, their advisors, and high-profile pundits to share their views, updates, and opinions. During the 2008 Presidential election, this became abundantly clear, especially through President Obama’s camp. Obama used not only Twitter but also FaceBook, MySpace, and other social networking platforms throughout the campaign and into his presidency. His followers on these platforms are still growing, even a year later.
The way Twitter and other social networks can be used for politics is quite effectively. These social platforms can be used to further one’s agenda and share a political message and view. President Obama has definitely been a trailblazer in this way of communicating with the public and many politicians are now following his lead. The Obama campaign had nothing but success when they opted to use technology as a platform.
When you look at how President Obama used Twitter and other social networking sites to spread his message, and how it helped boost his campaign, you have to wonder if that somehow cost Senator John McCain the election. McCain didn’t resonate with tech-savvy young people and used social networking sites very little throughout the campaign. Though no one can say for sure, there is a strong underlying theory that had McCain embraced the Internet as Obama had, the election may have ended more in his favor.
The one thing we can learn from the 2008 Presidential Election is that social networking and sites like Twitter were an invaluable tool. This means that these platforms are not just a popular fad but are here to stay! Twitter makes it easy for the public to share their own thoughts, opinions, and comments with their elected officials. And guess what? Those elected officials are listening.
It’s important to mention that politicians aren’t the only ones in the public realm making use of Twitter and its companion sites. Pundits and other news sources are also relying on Twitter for information and questions. We must not forget that it is the general population that reporters are here to inform and elected officials are here to serve. And if Twitter is where everyone is talking, they had better take heed.
So, if you were wondering if Twitter and other social sites had any effect on politics, the short answer is a resounding “yes.” Everyday we see that our sources for news and information in the traditional sense are disappearing – newspapers and print magazines are closing shop and making way for online alternatives. Social networking sites are now credited as communities in which members can read about newsworthy topics and read opinion-forming comments. Debates and discussions are common in such platforms. It’s not just about Tweeting for your friends anymore.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by michael_duvall: The Effects of Twitter on Politics http://bit.ly/46I3nD…
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It’s amazing how a seemingly simple service would have such an effect on some many different aspects of our lives.