Will social networking have a major impact on 08′ elections? No
Lately there has been an excess amount of hype regarding the contributions and importance of social networking and web 2.0 to the 2008 election. It’s as if somehow cornering the web is crucial to a successful campaign and any candidate that isn’t up to date with the latest social networking web 2.0 gizmo is doomed to failure. Almost every day a candidate seems to gets flak by the high tech community for not having a suffiently interactive website, failing to embrace web 2.0, censoring comments on a blog, or whatever.
But can social networking result in more votes, and a subsequent victory? Will social networking and online campaigning be a deciding factor in the 2008 elections?
The answer is no, and for several reasons.
First, social networks mainly appeal to younger people between the age of 13 and 25. Facebook has an older audience on the upper range of that scale while myspace tends to appeal to younger people. However, that age demographics has the highest percentage of voter apathy, and most people who use social networks aren’t even old enough to vote in the first place. So even if a million myspace users join an Obama Myspace page how many of those ‘friends’ will turn into vortes? Not very many.
Second, people already have made up their mind. If you’re going to vote for Hillary Clinton, a Clinton facebook page isn’t going to have an impact on your vote since you’re already decided who you’re going to vote for. Social networking pages attact people who are already loyal to the candinate, not crucial swing voters.
Third, the candidate can still blunder on TV as was downfall of Howard Dean in 2004. Howard dean had an huge internet following but after infamously screaming following the loss of the Iowa primary, his online legion of fans coudn’t save him from ultimately falling out of the front running.
The hype regarding social networking, web 2.0 and the 2008 election has become almost intollerable. Finally, the time has come to dispell some of this hype. TV avertising isn’t going away. Candidartes can still swew up OFFLINE and 13 year old obama fans DONT translate into votes.
Socia
3 Responses to “Will social networking have a major impact on 08′ elections? No”
Comment from barman
Time November 30, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Ron Paul will be the first virally elected candidate ever. Believe that douche.
Comment from Administrator
Time December 3, 2007 at 7:16 pm
barman, why not use a URI to an actual site?
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Comment from darfur
Time November 30, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Holy fuck man! That’s is massive earth shattering shit.