We hear that this is the i-election, that 77% of voters want to vote online , and that “the internet has never been so important (in a general election). Over the pond, Barack Obama and the Democrats were motivating young people and grassroots to go out there and win them the election.
How much does social networking mean to the every day voter? Twitter users have been described as “political anoraks”, and Facebook is much more of a private space for friends (although 13% of people are Facebook friends with their MP, according to the Daily Mail).
It is not us who are interested in politics that matter in the question of whether social media can affect the outcome of the election. Most people who use political blogs and websites already have an idea about who they are going to vote for. But what about people who are not so interested or knowledgeable about what politicians and parties have to offer? Can following an MP or being friends with them on Facebook change how people vote? With these interfaces, we all have the ability to interact with political powers – which is something that most people have had limited access to in the past.
And what about spoof campaigns like mydavidcameron.com and ‘David Cameron’s Head On A Stick’ (Youtube clip below). Whereas parties used to do their own smear campaigning against other candidates – such as ‘Googlebombing’, now, third parties, such as Clifford Singer of mydavidcameron, are using media technology to undermine campaigns of opponents.
Here are a few pointers on how the internet can be used in this election. If you would like to add your own ideas for politicians and political parties – comment below.
Five lessons from MyDavidCameron
Social media election? Nah, it’s the TV wot won it - Lewis Three Sixty
BBC First Time Voters Question Time
