Has micro blogging become too easy a media? It is in any case easy.
Many use
viral marketing, i.e. advertising on social media and the numbers are growing
(Phanchalad, A, 2013). And when we as prosumers (see blog post: 'The public needs to Decide') self- seeking and sharing information, it is quite easy and
affordable for companies, organizations and other market leaders to hit a wide
audience. This also applies to politicians.
Since the Swedish
election raged on national media platforms in 2010, the international viral media
also got involved in a big way. Especially the social blog forum Twitter was
used more and more, the closer to the election the days came. On the last day the
use of Twitter increased to twice the activity than the previous days (Larsson
et al. 2011, 735).
Another
example of viral application in politics is the Norwegian election, culminating
in a month's time. The desperate, Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg,
got into a taxi and pretended to be the driver. The scenario was uploaded to
You Tube and is shown over 1 million times.
Advertising
and spin through social media is being used in a greater and greater degree of
politicians. People loved the idea of a ' human ' politician. The Norwegian
media stunt is shared in many medias all over the world, including BBC.
Taxi Stoltenberg,
The idea of
a politician at eye level with the individual citizen can get people to stand
strong in polls. But it is too easy to get the human role quickly? Or is it the
people's demands that are becoming saturated? I think the last. In any event,
it is certainly a quick and inexpensive way to publicity, and therefore votes.
I do not
think we as a people are too easily bought. Not as long as we still bring us
selves into the political beliefs! But hand in hand with a popular demand for a
break entertainer, diminished interest in long interviews, which just may be
illuminated errors and debates. It is simply too boring for us citizens.
Disappointing when it is our country future, and it depends on the proper
politician.
arbeiderpartiet. (2013). Taxi Stoltenberg. [Online
Video]. 01 August. Available from:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBXV-LXzeig.
[Accessed: 03 September 2013].
Olorf Larsson, A. and Moe, H., 2011 ‘Studying political
microblogging: Twitter users in the 2010 Swedish election campaign’ New Media
and Society, vol. 14, no.5
Phanchalad, A, 2013, ’ Survey Shows Australian Businesses
Are Increasing Their Use of Social Media’, PR Web, Sydney
Hi Silja,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you explained political micro-blogging and its application by politicians. I found it interesting how politicians more or less use Twitter as a public relations tool - it seems to be less about communicating policy and more about showing personality through these platforms. I liked the video you included as it supports your text well, and provides exemplification. I also found it interesting that you covered various nations (Sweden and Norway) to demonstrate that this is a global 'trend' by politicians on the campaign trail.
Great work! Thanks!
Hey Silja!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post! You have explored politics and blogging in an interesting and in depth manner! I also love that it is based on politics outside of Australia. Your inclusion of the taxi stunt made your post all the more interesting and it alongside the details of the Swedish election supported your post well.
I agree with your idea that politics should not be entirely about their publicity! I think that through individual blogging platforms and social media, too much emphasis is placed on the individual politician rather than the political party and their beliefs.
Like you said however, it is still nice when the politician reminds the public that they too are human. Blogging and social media definitely add to this! As well as creating conversation between the public and the politician, blogging could also be said to create documentation over time.
Thank you!
Hi I enjoyed your blog about the new usage of social media by politicians especially twitter which every celebrity and any want to be celebrity are using to the effect of gaining a following. The traditional media of Newspapers and news on the TV have also taken to micro blogging. But politician are probably the biggest change, once only a media conference would get information of a professional politician now that same politician can be seen in a more personal light of twitter and I agree that it has change the way we look at politician.
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