Social Media in Campaigns
ANSWER
Using social media effectively is a key strategy in today’s presidential elections. Candidates may reach tens of thousands of people via social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, including those who might only sometimes follow politics. They can create their message without using major media channels as an intermediary by using social media.
Presidential contenders have an unrivaled opportunity to communicate their policy objectives and share their views with the public on an unprecedented scale, thanks to this ability to contact voters directly through social media. Candidates may interact with their supporters on its highly visible platform, create discussion about their campaign platform, and ensure they stay one step ahead of the competition. “Social media offers presidential candidates the ideal platform to promote themselves,” observes Hwang (2016).
Additionally, social media may be utilized effectively for several things, including debating opponents, disseminating images and videos that support their campaign theme, and reacting swiftly to breaking news. Additionally, it can assist campaigns better design their entire approach by providing them with insightful information about public opinion.
In the end, presidential campaigns can build an online presence that resonates with voters and provides them the edge they need on the campaign trail by effectively leveraging the power of social media. Social media has emerged as a crucial weapon for contemporary presidential campaigns, and its significance will only increase over the coming years.
Politicians now communicate with their constituents in a completely new way because of social media. Candidates can use this effective tool to communicate directly with the voters they want to represent. With no need for costly advertising campaigns, they can swiftly and easily disseminate crucial information while having two-way conversations thanks to this direct link. For instance, Donald Trump used Twitter to provide soundbites to his fans to use social media during the 2016 Republican primary campaign effectively. Thanks to these bite-sized pieces of content, voters didn’t have to follow conventional news sources or watch drawn-out debates to be informed about his ideas and policies. Trump increased attention to his message and ultimately won the nomination by taking advantage of this chance early on in his campaign. As a result, social media offers politicians a special platform for connecting with voters in real-time, making it easier for them to spread their views and policies without relying on expensive advertising campaigns. Political campaigning has been changed by the close relationship between politicians and voters, and it will probably continue to be a crucial instrument for many years.
References
J. Greenberg (2018). How the Great Recession Changed American and European Politics, The Populist Explosion. Columbia University Press, New York, NY.
How Social Media is Changing Campaigns, Hwang Y., 2016. https://harvardpolitics.com>, 10 December 2016; Harvard Political Review Online.
QUESTION
Kimberly Moken
Option 1:
Contemporary presidential campaigns are using social media as a campaign tool by posting on media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook. Social media could be a successful tool to use for a presidential campaign because you can reach more people and you can reach people who do not follow politics. “Social media and its highly visible environment provides presidential candidates the ideal platform to promote themselves, articulate their policy goals, and interact with voters – directly and without the filter of the mainstream media.” (Hwang, 2016) It’s also a way for them to get their message out there without spending a significant amount of money. Messages are posted on a feed or recorded and posted to their social media account for voters to go back and read or watch the videos at a time that is convenient for them. “Some have argued that Donald Trump’s success in the 2016 Republican primaries and caucuses was, in part, a product of his ability to take advantage of media outlets’ insatiable desire to attract viewers, listeners, and readers.” (Greenberg, 2018, p.143) Before social media, voters had to catch it live on television or read about it in the newspaper. Social media has made it easier for Americans to access information about the political candidates.
Hwang, A. S. (2016). Social Media and the Future of U.S. Presidential Campaigning. Google Scholar. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2328&context=cmc_theses
Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2018). The Struggle for Democracy, 2018 Elections and Updates Edition (12th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/books/9780135246849
Links to an external site.
