How Does Social Media Affect Politics in Our Changing Political Landscape? Elliot Stone
I am a Junior Political Science major who has always been interested in studying the way politics and political actors interact with the world around them. The use of social media by citizens and politicians alike gives us all a unique way to participate in the political process, and better informs my study of voter participation, especially in relation to college-aged voters.
Various types of media have in the past been shown to have a great effect of the political landscape of the country. Media such as radio and television revolutionized the way Americans received their news and allowed politicians to connect with American citizens on a more personal level. With the advent of radio, "politicians, used to bellowing at fairgrounds and train depots, found themselves talking to families in their homes," and with the advent of television, the election cycle and system of debates were forever changed.
Franklin Roosevelt proved to be the first politician to master the art of radio, using the medium to full effect in a series of addresses he termed Fireside Chats. FDR spoke on various topics throughout his administration such as the Great Depression and the New Deal programs instituted in response, as well as the progress of America's involvement in the Second World War.
Television added a whole new dimension to politics, and allowed Americans to see the political process unfold in real time. The 1960 election proved to be the first major election cycle covered in dept through the lens of a television camera, and events such as the series of debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon saw the realization of true power of TV.
"Television gave candidates their bodies back."
JFK was the first candidate, and President for that matter to fully embrace the new medium. While Kennedy looked young and polished during the first debate, his opponent looked sickly and nervous with the cameras capturing the sweat emanating from Nixon. Those who listened to the debate on the radio contended that Nixon had won, but those who tuned in on their TVs believed JFK to be the victor. The debate is often cited as a driving reason Kennedy went on to win the presidency proving that politicians who master the art of television have a distinct advantage in a changing political environment.
The exact influence of social media on today's political world is hard to measure. Some contend that social media constitutes a third wave of technological advancement in the political arena, however this idea is not without its critics. Many are arguing that the use of social media is dumbing down political discourse, with politicians resorting to petty name-calling and thinly-veiled jabs designed to increase their re-tweets or likes without ever tackling any substantive issues.
Social media use as a political activity is a relatively recent concept, however it is one that has the potential to greatly influence the electoral landscape. According to a study by Pew, "66% of social media users (39% of American adults) have engaged in one of eight civic or political activities with social media." This activities include sharing political content, liking or following profiles related to candidates and political issues, as well as encouraging others to take part in politics.
According to an article by Journalist's Resource, "Academic research has consistently found that people who consume more news media have a greater probability of being civically and politically engaged across a variety of measures."
While the 2008 election can be termed the Facebook election, 2012 is largely considered to be the true start of the influence of social media use during campaigns. The below video from the 2012 election cycle discusses the use of social media in the 2012 elections, and speculates as to the extent social media might influence the course of the pending election.
Works Cited:
Lee, Linda. "Politics & Social Media: What Your Posts Say About YOU." 995 WYCD Detroits Best Country. 99.5 WYCD, 25 Mar. 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Barthel, Michael, and Elisa Shearer. "Methodology: How Do Americans Use Twitter for News?" Pew Research Centers Journalism Project RSS. Pew, 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
Carr, Nicholas. "How Social Media Is Ruining Politics." POLITICO Magazine. Politico, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Boulianne, Shelley. "Social Media Use and Participation: A Meta-analysis of Current Research," Information, Communication & Society, 2015.
Pew. "Politics Fact Sheet." Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. Pew Research Center, 14 Nov. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Bloomberg. "How Much of an Impact Is Social Media Having on Politics." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
"Social Media and Politics." Fox News. Fox News, 03 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.