politics 2.0

As the Internet continues to evolve its multiple functions and applications, political campaigns have had to rethink and reorganize the ways in which they target voters to gather support and money.  Especially evident in this past presidential election, the Internet can be a major component to the success of a candidate’s campaign.  This blog: Internet Revolutionizes Campaign Fundraising comes from America.gov and I think it provides a good explanation of how politicians have used the Internet in recent years.  Additionally, the cartoon on the right signifies how interactive politicians have become with the public, thanks to the Internet.  

Before the Internet boom circa 2000, it was difficult to advertise the Internet  and web sites as a dynamic place for the public to visit and show support for their favorite candidates.  During this time, politicians relied on more traditional fundraising methods such as formal speeches, and they also got most of their money from a few individuals who donated the majority of it.  

Today, things are incredibly different.  The fact that the Internet is free for anyone to use has enabled politicians and political candidates to reach out to a vast number of supporters free of charge.  Additionally, it has increased the public’s willingness and desire to become involved in political campaigns.  By using the Internet, Obama conveyed the message that he was speaking directly to his voters.  As a result, his voters wanted to respond to him and make themselves heard.  Additionally, they felt that for once a candidate was actually taking a legitimate interest in what the voters wanted, and not just giving a speech on television about all the promises he intended to make if he were elected.  

In addition to Obama dispersing a multitude of information and updates through the use of Twitter, mass emails, Facebook, and other online networking sites, Obama also was able to connect people from all across America.  This is an area that I feel is especially important in the process of using the Internet to campaign.  Not only did Obama make himself heard, but by connecting people with similar interests and desires, these groups of people could go off on their own to create their own campaigns on Obama’s behalf.  Additionally, this ability to connect people was enhanced by Obama’s use of micro-targeting.  For example, once Obama collected enough information on his followers (such as their race, sex, age, etc), he was able to more effectively target people and more effectively connect those people with similar interests.

Another example of Obama’s success with using the internet, specifically YouTube, to support his campaign is posted below:

This video circulated among millions and millions of people and it was especially effective because it combined the idea of a “viral video” that would be greatly dispersed with the concept of using celebrities that endorse the candidate.  Additionally, this video was targeted predominately at an audience of young voters (who are extremely important to a political campaign) and Obama recognized that one of the best way to target young voters would be through the Internet, because they are the ones who most utilize the Internet.

Overall, this new form of politics, politics 2.0, displays the incredible power the Internet continues to have on all areas of life, from connecting people across distances to helping to elect America’s first black president…