What Politicians Don't Know About Technology Can Hurt Them

Social media technology provides two benefits to politicians: 1) the ability to connect with millions of people who share their political beliefs and ideals with the click of a mouse and 2) the ability to recruit new supporters and advance their political agendas. Both are powerful mediums for anyone in politics. The best part is that all is needed is a computer, mouse and keyboard. Consequently, while the internet may be used to the politician's benefit, it can also be just as detrimental to their career with scrutinizing statements and movements to hold them accountable for their action or inaction.

In August 2006, Myspace reported it had 100 million accounts registered in its network making this network a harvest ground for anyone with a marketing agenda to tap into, therein came musicians, artists, authors, business men and women. There have been reports of business professionals increasing business and status using Myspace. A January 2009 Compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social network by worldwide monthly active users, surpassing it's predecessor MySpace.

Arguably, the most successful online media campaign launched to date was the 2008 election of Barack Obama. With the awakening of social media and email marketing, the political climate changed in the most recent presidential election.

Regular Joe and Jane citizens are now able to rally their family and friends around causes that are near and dear to them. Throwing Facebook, Youtube, Myspace, and/or Twitter into the mix compounds the effectiveness of citizens' influence in politics. Events and groups can be created to advance a cause in the blink of an eye. Breaking news travels faster than the speed of light. Everyone is an analyst. Everyone has the potential to market and promote. Will.I.Am sang it best in a song written for the Obama campaign, "It's A New Day."

The upside to this trend is that politicians are charged to be more open and honest with voters. The downside for politicians, well, politicians are charged to be more open and honest with voters. They also are able to engage the public in the manner that the Constitution was written, "We the people."

Another benefit to politicians and citizens is employing internet watchdogs to use technology to monitor trends of topics discussed and issues dear to voters, which can be assessed early and transform decision making in politics. How the public reacts to any particular bill, speech, or political pundit is at everyone's fingertips. While President Obama's opponents were seemingly unaware of the popularity of this internet technology during the 2008 campaign, the president and his team were poised to reach millions of unengaged Americans through Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and email marketing. This engagement sparked a sentiment of personal connection to the president (then candidate Barack Obama). Citizens compassionate to his cause caught the Obama fever and his campaign took off like a Learjet.

In 2009, many politicians have made their way to the internet to network. Revisions made to websites, including social networks, have been more and more visible. Before Obama made online social media popular to politicians during his 2008 presidential campaign, there were slim pickings of senators and mayors to "friend on Facebook." However, you probably will have no problem finding out how to follow your favorite governor on Twitter or keeping up with their updates on Facebook today.

Cited Articles

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/05/smbusiness/myspace_fortune/index.htm

http://www.mikerogers.house.gov/

http://www.barackobama.com

http://www.myspace.com

http://www.facebook.com

http://www.wikipedia.com

http://www.compete.com