The Internet Can be #Mean

Social media advertising does not always go the way you want it to go. There has been a shift in how politicians, and like-minded people, connect thanks to social media. This can be very useful, but does not always have the intended outcome. People use hashtags on Twitter to share their thoughts and see what others are saying about that same thing (e.g. #love). Companies, TV shows, and politicians can use these to get awareness of whatever they are doing out to others who might not otherwise see it. What people don't think about sometimes is that people are mean, especially on the Internet.

One example of this is #ImARepublican. The hashtag was started to break stereotypes of a Republican. However, the hashtag was taken over by people using it for satirical, and downright mean, uses. Instead of dispelling stereotypes they were feeding them and making fun of the hashtag. Most of them were funny, however the Internet can be meaner than real life. Politicians always need to be aware of how what they post on the Internet can be twisted, as can anything they say really.

Here is the link to the article, which has a pictures, tweets, and a video from the hashtag: source.  

Social Media Politicians

There has been a large shift in how Americans get news and information. More people are looking to the Internet, and more specifically social media, to gather information. These changes have also changed how politicians recruit, advertise, and connect with their audiences.

It is generally accepted that 2008 marked the beginning of social media elections. People started going to social media more and more to connect with family, friends, and even politicians. As such, politicians changed how they connected with the public. In 2008, Obama 112,475 Twitter followers which grew to 19,917,434 in 2012.

Using social media has become a very widely used form of advertisement and promotion. If a politician doesn't have a social media presences, they are at a severe disadvantage. Although not all politicians write the actual content on their social media sites, they still have accounts and information is posted for them.

This inforgraphic provides more information on how social media has changed with respect to politicians and political elections.

Source

   I think social media will only continue to grow and have a bigger impact on politics and how people perceive and learn about politicians.

Think Before You Post

With the rise of social media, everyone tells you to be careful of what you post on your various accounts. We have all heard "Once it is on the Internet it is there forever!" and "Employers will check your social media accounts before hiring you!" in attempts to make us think before we post. While you shouldn't post pictures from your wild night on Spring Break, can posts on social media lead to something even bigger?

Posting embarrassing photos to social media is never good, but what about posting national secrets to your Twitter or Facebook? What happens then, and what is being done it stop it from happening in the first place? One way this is being combated, David Nakamura states,  is by banning the use of social media on White House computers. Only those whose job it is to post to social media can access these websites. This however, can create a dilemma because when breaking news occurs, people cannot get real time updates. A program called eChirp was created to allow White House staffers to talk about breaking news as it happens and keep all employees informed.  

eChirp logo

There is a fine line between keeping national secrets, and restricting people's freedom. It is one that is more and more relevant to today's world. Almost all politicians have a Twitter account, and so does everyone else. Making sure that company (and government) information stays out of the wrong hands will always be hard, but "Thinking before posting" can be a big help!

Source