We don't have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it." - Erik Qualman
Social media holds a prominent influence in today's culture as almost everything is affected by the internet. Public events, personal opinions, artsy photos and dinner recipes are displayed online. The 2016 election was displayed all over social media and the public opinion online can hurt or help an election. Nevertheless, social media has changed the way Americans speak about politics and elections forever.
Bias in the Media "Prior to taking office as president, Trump called global warming a "hoax." After the administration announced it would withdraw from the Paris climate accord, the White House sidestepped questions over whether the president continues to think climate change is a hoax. Pew's latest report suggests that kind of rhetoric may have had an impact on Republican voters who support the president." Foran, Clare, editor. "America's Political Divide Keeps Getting Wider." The Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Group, 5 Oct. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/ politics/archive/2017/10/trump-partisan-divide-republicans-democrats/541917/. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017. |
A new report from the Pew Research Center analyzed the use of bias in the media, and the effect this bias has on the information voters receive. For example, the White House seemed to support Trump after he referred to global warming as a "hoax" by then avoiding questions regarding this topic. It is this rhetoric that shapes voters' views on controversial issues such as global warming. |
Twitter was a very popular social media platform used by voters in the 2016 election. The graph to the left shows the number of tweets that were posted in referring to either Trump or Clinton, and the events the tweets discussed. Interestingly enough, only 2 of the candidates' top 10 most tweeted days were policy-driven conversations. This shows the drama social media often creates around election time. |
Sanders, Sam. "Did Social Media Ruin Election 2016?" NPR News, 8 Nov. 2016,
www.npr.org/2016/11/08/500686320/did-social-media-ruin-election-2016.
Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
www.npr.org/2016/11/08/500686320/did-social-media-ruin-election-2016.
Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Read all of Trump's Tweets!
"The Twitter President"
President Trump, since the beginning of his campaign has been using Twitter as a platform to transfer his messages, arguments, and criticism around the world. President Trump is the first president to rely heavily on social medias like Twitter. This demonstrates the shift in the spreading of information throughout the history of elections. Check out President Trump's Twitter Page. Estepa, Jessica. “Trump Has Tweeted 2,461 Times since the Election. Here's a Breakdown of His Twitter Use.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 8 Nov. 2017. |