Facebook and the 2008 Election
How Candidates are Reaching America's Youth
Facebook, the online sensation, is bringing the candidates and issues of the 2008 presidential election to America's youth in a way never before imagined.
The online service Facebook has become a staple in the day-to-day life of a large proportion of America’s youth. Members can send messages to their friends, post on each others’ walls and even provide others with up-to-the minute status updates. One intriguing development in the Facebook odyssey is the effect it is having on the 2008 Presidential Election.
Visibility
Due to the widespread and everyday use of Facebook by America’s youth, the service has become a primary source of information for many of its users. As a result, Facebook has become a major source of information on the 2008 Presidential Election for young people. This gives candidates a new and convenient way to present their message to young people who would not have heard it otherwise.
Facebook Profiles
One strategy is for candidates (or their campaign staff) to create their own profiles. On their profile they will typically post personal information, news regarding their campaign, and videos of speeches. Young people are drawn to this format because the candidates seem more personable since their favorite movies are listed on the same page as their politics.
Facebook Groups
Another way that candidates gain visibility is through groups. Interest groups abound on Facebook and members typically join groups that are of interest to them, including groups that support the candidates. Candidates gain visibility when politically neutral members see their friends joining political groups and as a result check out the groups for themselves.
Facebook Applications
A final means by which candidates gain visibility on Facebook is through applications. Applications, created by third-parties are a new phenomenon to Facebook. These programs must be added in order to see the content or interact with others who have the application. Candidates (or their staff) have created programs in order to facilitate even more interest in, and discussion about, their campaign.
Discussion Boards
What all of these tools have in common is their discussion boards. On a candidate’s profile or in a candidate’s group or application there is always a discussion board where anyone can post questions or comments about anything relating to the candidate. This facilitates political discussion among young people in a way never seen before. A conservative in Texas can discuss immigration with a liberal in California without having to leave their respective rooms. Facebook expedites this process by instantly putting these people in contact with one-another.
Effects
The full effects of Facebook on the 2008 Presidential Election will be difficult to quantify, however, some predictions can be made. Due to the increase in discourse among young people concerning the candidates and the issues, it is reasonable to hypothesize that more young people will turn out to vote in 2008. Additionally, this increase in young voter turnout will probably help Senator Barack Obama as he has five times as many supporters on Facebook as the next highest candidate. Regardless if this speculation comes to fruition, Facebook will remain an interesting social issue in the coming years.
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