COM 125 - Entry #8: Internet Politics

The internet is a pervasive form of media that is now used extensively in the arena of politics. Presidential candidates such as Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton have both engaged the social media via social networking sites. Past candidates have also been known to engage the social media to promote themselves and their party in the recent years.

Research and studies done on this topic has generated a few key findings. Basically, the internet and the social media is only a tool to aid presidential candidates in terms of increasing their visibility on the web with the aim of garnering more votes. It has also been found that voters who are more highly educated, tend to seek out more political information on the internet, and thus, are more well-informed when it comes to making a sound vote. Moreover, the number of votes have been increasing ever since the advent of the internet, and the increasing popularity of the social media that has contributed towards tis phenonmenon.

However, engaging the social media and its applications may also pose as a threat to these presidential candidates. For one, a constant lookout is required 24/7 where blogs are concerned. Content posted online must be constantly monitored; feedback must also be promptly attended to and problems must be rectified ASAP. This is to ensure that a uniformed and positive image is projected all throughout, which is essential in maintaining a "clean, positive image" to portray to all.