Week 9: Internet & Politics

3 WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA (INTERNET) HAS IMPACTED SINGAPORE'S GENERAL ELECTION

1. Social connections brings more opinions and perspective of things

Just 5 years ago, people were receiving information on the general elections from newspapers, magazines and daily broadsheet. look at us now! Social media has changed the game plan for any upcoming general elections. With Facebook and Twitter, an individual's feed can be constantly flooded with varying opinions and perspectives of the public. Social influence through the internet is inevitable. 

2. Broader discussion with people you do not even know

Besides Internet forums, where topics regarding the GE were discussed readily by forum members familiar with each other, this election will be noted as one that allowed complete strangers to connect instantly via social media. Twitter's Hashtags (#) provided a single information stream for people to view, retweet, and reply tweets they wanted to comment on. This led to strangers having heated debates, rebutting comments contrary to their political beliefs, and even going as far as blocking users who disagreed with them.

3. Everything is much much faster!

As early as 2300 hrs on 7th of May, words spread quickly that a hotly contested region had fallen to the opposition on Twitter and Facebook. Only 3 hours later, did the mainstream media confirm the news. In fact, almost all the election-related information shared on social media was more accurate and faster than mainstream media. Information on a candidate can be easily dugged up and reviewed by the public - where the internet can set ablaze varying reactions. 

With everything much faster, what are the disadvantages?

Campaigning is tough in general. However, internet campaigning might not be a good idea. Its bad enough as it is to do it in real life but the internet is a bad idea. For example, since so many people have access to the internet there are the potential for more lies to be spread, more hate speech from blogs, and more issues that can be spread from those that are against a certain candidate. As it stands right now, many people use the internet to vent of their frustrations about the campaign like they do here. Campaigning online would mean an immediate slander for anyone who runs. 

SO WHY ARE YOUNG ADULTS & YOUTHS APATHETIC TOWARDS POLITICS?

sadly, this should explain the attitudes we have towards politcs