Social Media and Politics

Earlier on in the semester, we spent over a week discussing social media and activism. The readings and discussions truly urged me to think more about the relationship between social media and politics, a relationship which has tremendously grown as of recently. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, have given many people a platform in which to publish their own thoughts and to share their opinions and beliefs with others.

The 2012 Presidential Election, for example, further shows the growing popularity of social media in the world of politics. Within the months, days, and hours leading up to election day, I noticed a large amount of twitter users tweeting their political opinions in one hundred and forty characters or less. Through the sharing of these political opinions, people can become more aware of the different issues present in society and what attitudes that people have towards those issues.Twitter users not only voiced their opinions, but they also shared their support as well as their discontent towards the candidates running for office. An article in the Detroit Free Press entitled “Voters Document Election on Social Media” stated that “the first national election in which social media went mainstream unfolded Tuesday” (Bello). The article also went on to state that there were nearly eleven thousand election related tweets per minute and eleven million tweets with the hashtag, #election2012. Even the Presidential candidates, including President Obama, Governor Mitt Romney, and Gary Johnson, used twitter as a means of campaigning and communicating with voters.

I think that the growing relationship between social media and politics has both its advantages as well as its disadvantages. On a positive note, social media allows people to express their beliefs and thoughts with others. It allows people to voice their opinions and to stand up for what they believe in. However, I have also noticed how it can lead to arguments, drama, and hateful comments between users. It amazes how little respect people have towards others who have differences in opinions and beliefs. However, even though it has its disadvantages, social media proves to be a means in which many people from across the country and across the world can share their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs with others.

Bello, Marisol. "Voters Document Election on Social Media." Detroit Free Press. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.freep.com/article/20121107/NEWS15/121107005/Presidential-election-social-media-Twitter-Facebook-YouTube>.