MySpace + YouTube = ePolitics? A look at how social networking and video sites are changing politics

SOCIAL NETWORKING One-in-five Americans overall (22%) use online social networking sites (Kohut) More younger voters got information about candidates and campaigns from social networking sites than older voters

One-in-five Americans overall (22%) use online social networking sites (Kohut)

More younger voters got information about candidates and campaigns from social networking sites than older voters

MYSPACE v FACEBOOK Barack Obama 287,791 friends Hillary Clinton 185,589 friends John McCain 46,362 friends Barack Obama 594,955 supporters Hillary Clinton 120,657 supporters John McCain 69,037 supporters

Barack Obama

287,791 friends

Hillary Clinton

185,589 friends

John McCain

46,362 friends

Barack Obama

594,955 supporters

Hillary Clinton

120,657 supporters

John McCain

69,037 supporters

2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS SENATE 32% posted a profile on Facebook Avg – 2,146 supporters HOUSE 13% posted a profile on Facebook Avg – 125 supporters

SENATE

32% posted a profile on Facebook

Avg – 2,146 supporters

HOUSE

13% posted a profile on Facebook

Avg – 125 supporters

FACEBOOK 2006 Midterm elections – 2.64% of users supported a candidate (Gulati & Williams) 1.5 million (13%) members were connected to a candidate or issue (Gulati & Williams) Democrats were more likely to use Facebook than Republicans Did Facebook make a difference?

2006 Midterm elections – 2.64% of users supported a candidate (Gulati & Williams)

1.5 million (13%) members were connected to a candidate or issue (Gulati & Williams)

Democrats were more likely to use Facebook than Republicans

Did Facebook make a difference?

2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS If there was no incumbent, then it did make a difference! But the 18-29 year olds were grossly misrepresented Don’t have to be registered to vote to indicate support of a candidate

If there was no incumbent, then it did make a difference!

But the 18-29 year olds were grossly misrepresented

Don’t have to be registered to vote to indicate support of a candidate

YOUTUBE ELECTIONS “ THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED… … IT WILL BE YOUTUBED!” (http://it.youtube.com/group/indiemedia)

“ THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED…

… IT WILL BE YOUTUBED!”

(http://it.youtube.com/group/indiemedia)

ONLINE VIDEO Almost a quarter of Americans (24%) have seen something about a campaign in a video online (Kohut) Even 7% among 65+ year olds have seen some type of campaign video online (Kohut)

Almost a quarter of Americans (24%) have seen something about a campaign in a video online (Kohut)

Even 7% among 65+ year olds have seen some type of campaign video online (Kohut)

POLITICIANS v VIDEOS Howard Dean – “I have a scream” speech George Allen – “Macaca” incident Hillary v Obama – crying and snubbing and plagiarism… oh my! Videos cango viral online... Could help or harm…

Howard Dean – “I have a scream” speech

George Allen – “Macaca” incident

Hillary v Obama – crying and snubbing and plagiarism… oh my!

Videos cango viral online... Could help or harm…

YOUTUBE “ What viral seem best at, I notice, is slashing the opposition. And the most brilliant ones, it should be pointed out, are not made by presidential hopefuls but by the electorate who judge them. Perhaps that is as it should be.” (Bachrach)

“ What viral seem best at, I notice, is slashing the opposition. And the most brilliant ones, it should be pointed out, are not made by presidential hopefuls but by the electorate who judge them. Perhaps that is as it should be.” (Bachrach)

QUESTIONS? How much of an influence do you believe online networking and video sites have on politics? What about against traditional media? How many of you have added a candidate to your Myspace or Facebook? How has it helped the candidate in getting you to participate somehow? If it’s relatively cheap to build a website and post videos online, why are campaigns getting more expensive?

How much of an influence do you believe online networking and video sites have on politics? What about against traditional media?

How many of you have added a candidate to your Myspace or Facebook? How has it helped the candidate in getting you to participate somehow?

If it’s relatively cheap to build a website and post videos online, why are campaigns getting more expensive?