Increasing role of Social Media in Politics - Pros and Cons

The Pros and Cons of increasing role of Social Media in Politics


People are turning to social networks, mainly Facebook and Twitter, but this time not to chat with the friends or post a vacation picture but to know about the latest developments of the General elections. The role of social media in politics is increasing day by day. It can really have an impact on the decision making of the people. So is this increasing role of social media in politics is good or has its own share of downsides? Let us see.

Pros

• Whether is the upcoming events, schedules of the parties or their election agenda, it is easy to get the details on Social media.

• There is no need of any middle man on the social media allowing the people to interact directly with the party representatives. Hangouts have been widely used in this General election to talk to the local people.

• Party can appoint a tech-savvy candidate to handle the social media and use it to reach to the people and their problems.

• Previously people were just voters but now they have become active participants in the entire process. They can engage in an open dialogue through social media.

• No one can forget the importance of social media in the election campaign designed by Obama. It involved active participation of people.

• People can get the latest information on their Smartphones even when they are on move. Minute by minute information is updated on social media.

Cons

• It still has to go a long way to connect with the local masses and to reach out the individual voters.

• Social media has become a tool of politicians that is used to make more noise and even is made a way to encourage polarization.

• The social media is highly used to blame and criticize the opposition parties and information is distorted by misleading and inaccurate facts.

• More and more number of political minorities are rising and using the social media to create a political gridlock.

• Social media presence and advertising requires there main factors including money, geography and name-recognition. If you look at Obama campaign, it was quite expensive spending about $50 million on just social media.

Conclusion

No matter what Politics was and politics is going to stay a numbers game. The real impact can only be seen when it will be successful to move the numbers in this General elections. Social media if used properly will certainly add to the vote bank but the other side of picture will always stay.
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    Discussion

  • RE: Increasing role of Social Media in Politics - Pros and Cons -Deepa Kaushik (05/09/14)
  • Social media has exposed a lot with respect to the political game. Common man has been made aware of many scandals and instances that remained under the carpet for many years. Media has played a vital role in getting in touch with the leading figures in the field of politics to hook them with the set of questionnaire.

    Though the media is approaching so aggressively in order to keep up in their viewer and readers’ wish list, still this has proved wise to the common man in analysing the party and the candidates for the approaching elections. Public awareness has spread a lot in the field of politics and people now take active interest in knowing the status of the politics and their trend towards the development of the country.

    Media also has some undue impacts which could be amended. It hypes the minor issues in order to keep up their news on highlight. This often proves as oil for the spark and issue that could have been closed down in a mall way spread like a forest fire. Many a things need to be maintained as secrecy in the governance of the country. With the over interference of the social media, things get into limelight and paves way for the bad elements of the society to take undue advantage of the opportunity.

    With some amount of restriction towards their work, media can create a lasting charm among the general public, by extending their helping hand in bridging the gap between the politicians, government and common man.