By stacey
So here’s the question: does social media influence political policy? Over the last few years, the rise of social media as a medium in which to interact with people locally and around the world has created a dramatically different landscape for those hoping to be elected as well as for those in power. Social media exemplified by Twitter, Facebook, and a whole host of blogs, has produced an entire generation of people that can not only get their viewpoints out to the public vis a vie the internet, but also be contacted by politicians in a new way.
For instance, let’s say that you’re sitting at your computer when you hear a knock at your door. You get up, open the door and see a politician running in a local election. Now let’s say you’re sitting at your computer and you see that the same politician is following your twitter account, or has added you as a friend on Facebook; or maybe they made a comment on your blog. To which are you more receptive? Read more »
Filed under:
Canadian Politics,
Charter of Rights,
Cool Technology,
DIY,
Liberal Party,
Media and Politics,
N.D.P.,
Open Source Activism,
Regina Municipal Election 2009,
Regina Politics,
Regina Streets,
Saskatchewan Party,
Saskatchewan Politics,
Social Media,
Social Media and Politics,
Twitter
By Greg Hluska
Other bloggers have written some great looks at how social media is becoming an important player in the current unrest in Iran. Western media cannot report on the situation in Iran, so tools like Twitter have emerged to raise awareness of the bloodshed that is resulting in that country. Just this morning, I was saddened to read (and retweet) this message:
Amir Javadifar, a student protester arrested on Jul 9th, died in prison. #iranelection http://bit.ly/XqsqH #Iran #g88
Messages like this are source material in the history of one of the most important fights of my generation. They also speak to the power of social media. The western world would not know that Amir Javadifar died in prison if not for social media. And then there is the organizational power of the social sphere. Read more »
By Greg Hluska
If you enjoy Monty Python, I suggest you watch – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSqkdcT25ss and then follow reginastreets on Twitter. And, if you don’t like Monty Python, you should follow us anyways.