Posting on Politics!

It is fair to say everybody is now coming to terms and adapting to the positive effects of Social Media, even our politicians. Being a 19 year old girl I had never really shown an interest in politics. It was one of those things that I wasn't concerned or interested about until it was thrown in my face and that’s what social media is doing to my generation and the world of politics. It’s bringing a connection, a modern day technique to maintain public interest and attract votes of the younger generation.

To perform and be able to maintain the vote Politicians need to show an interest in what we are interested in. Connect with us through social media and arise with issues that concern our generation. I don’t believe politicians need to look good via YouTube to succeed although knowing that a candidate can relate to us through the use of social media such as blogs, Twitter and YouTube videos it instantly demands public attention and credit. Political campaigns of the past have been proven successful in gaining audience attention and in future will continue to do so  “Fully 73% of adult internet users (representing 54% of all US adults) went online to get news or information about the 2010 midterm elections, or to get involved in the campaign in one way or another” (Smith, 2011).

The boring dull political campaigns of the 20^th century have been updated by modern day graphics and technologies. I do believe that there is an increasing need for parties to provide entertainment as well as credibility and this could be daunting for older candidates although at the end of the day an entertaining piece of work will gain more public interest and attention. The most ideal provisional factor social media brought to the Political world was giving candidates control on the content that is being delivered to the public and can be viewed in a way that they want to be viewed. The video ‘Social Networking is Revolutionizing Politics’ by ABC News imparticular outlines the mass effect Social Media is having on Politics and I encourage you all to take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DtTTB-Njgk.

Rheingold’s view on a virtual community has been obtained by the use of social media via political parties throughout the world. Starting off in the States, using social media to try and attract public attention is known to be a very successful technique and has been adopted by the rest of the world. Jenkins views of participatory culture also relate highly with political social media as we, the public, are not just consumers but producers and contributors also. Not only because we have the ability to vote but it is through views, hits, likes that these political campaigns gain interest and attract attention.

The future of politics and social media will continue to boom. Now they know how much attention social media can gain politicians will continue to use this to their advantage. Whether Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter or some completely new media forum I believe they will stay up to date and connected in an attempt to maintain votes and stay recognized.

REFERENCES

ABCNews, “Social Networking is Revolutionizing Politics”, July 22^nd 2010, viewed 7^th January 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DtTTB-Njgk

Smith, A, 2011, “The Internet and Campaign 2010”, Phew Internet, viewed 7^th January 2013, http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/The-Internet-and-Campaign-2010.aspx

Young, S, 2010, “How Australia Decides”, EBL, viewed 9^th Jan 2012, http://reader.eblib.com.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/(S(4i5y0jqjuilfe2mznp5pucco))/Reader.aspx?p=647454&o=132&u=sqhA8fZJtjoZH3sMc7Qg%2bA%3d%3d&t=1357533305&h=4F9939409075DC63108a5F50C6BE75F89A663CC2D&s=7362851&ut=405&pg=225&r=img&c=-1&pat=n#