This document discusses the role of social media and Web 2.0 technologies in the 2008 US presidential election. Some key findings include: 66% of internet users under 30 have social networking profiles; Democrats were more likely than Republicans to consume online video content and have social networking profiles; and many candidates faced controversies that spread online through blogs, social networks, and fact-checking sites.

1. Web 2.0 Comes of Age
Pamela K. Kemp
IT 780
The University of Southern Mississippi

4. 66% of internet users under 30 have a social networking profile.
Half used social networking sites to exchange or acquire
Information about the candidates and the campaigns.
(Family photo- KH-NM, 2009)

7. Family Photo: KH/NM, 2009

8.  Young voters tended to gravitate toward the
Democratic party.
 Online Democrats outpaced Republicans in their
consumption of online video 51% to 42%.
 36% of Democrats have social networking site profiles
in contrast to 21% of Republicans and 28% of
Independents
 (Source Pew Internet and American Life Project)

9.  Obama’s “guns or religion or antipathy” remark at a
fundraiser
 The Reverend Jeremiah Wright
 Preacher John Hagee (A backer of Republican, John
McCain)
 Hillary Clinton and the ‘sniper’ fire in Bosnia

10.  Bloggers
 Politico.com
 FactCheck.org

13. Family Photo: KH/NM, 2009

14.  Images were obtained via Yahoo Images – Flickr - and
filtered for Creative Commons Images.
 Slide 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/13556261/
 Slide 3: Newspapers – http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucka_nc/4213321361/
Magazine Display - http://www.flickr.com/photos/slavin_fpo/3327526646/
 Social Networking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandymaarten/503716476/
 Web 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocCOeanflynn/315385916/
Content Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project - 2008 Election
http://www.pewinternet.org/