Wednesday, September 2, 2015

How Social Media Is Ruining Politics

How Social Media Is Ruining Politics:



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26 comments:

  1. I don't agree with this article's message about social media. I personally think that presidential candidates should use social media sites such as twitter and instagram to promote their upcoming events and spread their ideas about current news. The social media world allows for information to be spread quickly to the masses and I think this has a positive effect in helping voters form opinions about the candidates. Most people in this era have some sort of social media account and therefore the candidates will be able to reach more people more efficiently than a TV or radio broadcast.

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    1. I, like McKenna, also disagree with this article. Social media is an extremely useful tool for campaigning. Presidential campaigning methods, like all other things, have evolved over time; it was not very long ago that presidents were campaigning via radio only. Television drastically changed presidential campaigns and now it is time for social media to take its course. McKenna made a great point in saying that social media allows candidates to reach out to a variety of citizens more quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, it motivates citizens to become more involved with the election; many people would not be willing to sit down and watch an hour long debate, but they would be likely to read a tweet or watch a snapchat. Seeing social media posts encourages citizens to watch campaign events more closely and form better opinions on candidates.

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    2. I agree with Mckenna on this situation. Social media is a good way for candidates to get their name out there and for them to inform interested voters what beliefs they have. Also, like Mckenna said, the candidates can use social media like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook for younger voters who use these applications every day to be informed about the candidates and when they have visiting dates. In my opinion candidates who do not use social media are a little more behind than the candidates who use social media to get out their beliefs. In my opinion social media is a great channel to use for candidates to get their beliefs and information out in the world so people can understand what they stand for.

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    3. I agree with McKenna, to disagree with this article. While social media is big in this generation, it is a great opportunity for presidential candidates to promote themselves and get the votes of citizens. It is better for the candidates to be able to express their beliefs through social media so voters can see how they feel on certain situations. While others view these posts and agree or disagre, they can decide whether or not they'd like to reblog or like the post. It's very important that the voters are also able to express their ideas and with the support of social media they are able to do so. If they were not able to express their ideas through social media it would be very difficult for the presidential candidates to get their messages out to people who are usually active on social media. Nowadays, most people don't watch the news on TV, they find information out from social media. Because this is such a huge part of this generations it's important that presidential candidates are able to express their beliefs and what they stand for through social media. While some people may disagree, I believe it is a part of today's generation and is a good way for people to view the beliefs of the candidates!

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  2. I agree and disagree with this article. Some aspects of it make a great point in my mind and others seem slightly outdated and do not recognize the era of technology that we are currently living in. I believe that social media is a great way for presidential candidates to voice their views and opinions. Almost every single American is on social media or technology in one way or another. However, I believe that there are also aspects of social media that can and do negatively effect the running of certain candidates and politics in general. As the article stated, social media "celebrities" will burn out quickly, however, that does not mean that they do not generate enough attention to raise alarm. Donald Trump, whether he is liked and knowledgable politically by some, he is better known for is public antics and outspoken social media personality. This attention that is caused by popularity in social media can be negative, as many people will consider certain candidates just because of their name or popularity on say instagram or twitter and not because of their political views.

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    1. I agree with Lucy that I am in-between on this article. There are parts of the article that I agree. Using social media to avert from the important issues and instead candidates using it to attract attention or make excuses, like Donal Trump, is not okay. It is unfortunate that people take advantage of this potentially very positive outlet in order to publicly shame or embarrass others to get ahead. Not all attention is good attention, which is often exemplified in poor media use. However, I believe that social media is a powerful tool in attracting supporters by voicing opinions on national matters to people across the country all at once. The power of social media is that it can reach all people at all times all over the world. For example, if you can’t attend various candidates' campaigning events, you can still feel as though you are a part of it or there through following it on snapchat, instagram, or twitter. With this new era of technology, candidates have the opportunity to gain supports through various outlets, rather than simply through physical campaign trails. I disagree that all media use is destructive, and as long as it is used for the right reasons, is very impactful.

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  3. I also disagree with this article's views about social media and elections. However, I think I know where the author draws his concerns from. As the author discussed throughout the article, the media platforms that elections have been broadcasted over have changed a few times throughout the United States' history. As examples, he noted how radio and television changed elections dramatically. When he introduced this fact, he only discussed how these inventions changed politics, not how they destroyed it. If anything, it almost seemed that he believed that these innovations improved elections. If the author found no fault in the previous two major communication inventions, why would he be afraid to adopt a new one? I think the author is simply wary of this new method of sharing information. The addition of social media to the political scene shouldn't cause any concerns. Social media simply expedites the transfer of information and forces candidates to have better track records. Because information spreads so quickly, politicians are forced to maintain a façade that seems honest, reliable, and trustworthy.

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  4. I disagree with this article as well. Social media is a way to be connected with millions of people all over the country at once. I think a wise move for the presidential candidates is to take advantage of these social media websites and applications so they can be connect with people across America. Social media makes these candidates more personal to people. It is a great way to keep people informed on what is happening in the election and when events are being taken place. Social media also helps us Americans get to know the presidential candidates. I believe this article is outdated and does not realize the effect social media has on people. By using social media, the presidential candidates also connect to a younger generation. They target the youth and make them get involved and be informed.

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  5. So- for all who disagree= Trump can't answer an interviewer's question on foreign policy, and to "escape" he draws attention away from his gaffe by bashing the interviewer?

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    1. I personally don't believe that is what we are saying. I think that social media is a great outlet and tool to reach those living the fast paced American life style. I know personally I don't have time to watch an hour long debate, but I do have the time to read the highlights. Many highlights include Trump's disrespectful comments. I believe that many people disagreeing with the article aren't agreeing or ignoring Trump's actions, but rather saying these "mess ups" are reaching the masses and especially the youth. Those who don’t have the time or interest in politics are able to stay informed without dedicating time they don’t have to watching speeches and debates. As technology progresses so should campaigning. I believe part of the reason Trump draws so much attention is his ability to reach people in their comfort zone. People today are comfortable online and I think if other candidates used the same social media based approach it would work in their favor. We live in a fast and always changing world and our future leaders need to keep up.

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  6. As an avid social media user, I disagree with this article. The title in general, "How Social Media Is Ruining Politics", is biased and highly debatable. As generations and technology progress, so must the surrounding world. Politicians, and now businessmen (i.e my personal favorite candidate, Donald Trump) must communicate and stay connected with younger generations. As we all know, the voting age is eighteen. Being in that age range, I am a perfect example of why social media has been very important in determining who I plan to vote for, keeping me updated on each party, and helping me stay connected with Trump and his firm beliefs. If candidates want to stay relevant to voters, especially younger generations and new voters, they must stay connected through social media, always keep it relevant and updated.

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  7. I don't agree with this article. Social media has transformed the world of politics. People all over the world are constantly checking and posting information on social media. I think social media is a great way for candidates running for a position in office to get out information. It is a simple way to reach millions in a matter of seconds, however, they must be careful about what they post and how it reflects themselves as a person. Once they post something on social media there is no way to simply delete what they have said. I also believe social media helps candidates become more personable and to grab the attention of the younger voters. The main users of social media are people the ages 18-25 and due to the fact 18 year olds can vote social media is an easy way to keep them informed.

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  9. I don't agree with his article. Academic research has consistently found that people who consume more news media have a greater probability of being politically engaged across a variety of measures. With social media advancing day by day and having it being accessible on your phone, TV, and computer you are always aware of current events and new updates on each of the candidates. Even though social media is affiliated with younger generations considering the voting age is 18 it creates more of an opportunity for them to become involved in political affairs. Social media helps with information to spread quickly and reach millions of people with in seconds, which in my opinion can benefit the party and its voters.

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  10. I do not agree with this article either. I believe that social media, such as twitter and facebook, should be used to spread news, let people know about future events, and promote presidential candidates. Information is spread very quickly over social media to hundreds and thousands of people. Social media is easily and quickly accessible wherever you want and therefore more people access it rather than listening to the radio or watching tv. Social Media makes it a lot easier for more people, especially younger generations, to stay updated with what is going on with the election and our country.

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  11. I disagree that social media is ruining politics. I think social media is a great way for politicians to let their voice be heard. I think sites such as Twitter and Facebook can be beneficial to a politician's campaign because they can personally connect with the people of America to spread news and gain followers. On the other hand, social media is full of bashful hate and other things things that can hurt a politician or their reputation. On social media, one can be portrayed in a manner that is the complete opposite of what they really are and that can hurt a politician but not necessarily politics.

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  12. I also disagree with this article. I think that social media can have a positive effect on politics. First off, social media allows people of all ages to be up to date on politics. This allows the younger generations to be more pollitically involved. Secondly, presidential candidates can use social media to promote themselves. They can use twitter for example to reach out to all different kinds of voters. Also, since technology is getting more and more advanced, people including older generations, need to learn how to use social media to their advantage.

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  13. I disagree with this articles view about social media. Social media is a great way for presidential candidates to share their progress and what they support rather than having people blindly vote for the candidate without knowing that much about them. Social media is a great way for candidates to voice their opinions and keep devoted citizens up to date with their campaign. This generation is very interested in the “now” and if candidates continue to post about their campaign and beliefs, they will definitely acquire a lot of attention and popularity with their “followers” or supporters. In conclusion, the use of social media is a great resource for candidates and will play a large part in the 2016 presidential election.

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  15. I also disagree with this article. Our generation is more up to date with with social media than the generations behind us. We all communicate with each other through the use of social media. Without social media, citizens of the United States would be more likely to vote for candidates blindly. If the candidates promote their campaign through social media, more people are likely to be educated on the situation and the candidates ideas. In conclusion, the use of social media to promote the candidates campaign for the 2016 presidential election is a positive way to spread the world throughout the United States.

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  16. I, like most others who have commented, mostly disagree with this article. I think that social media is a great way for candidates to campaign in modern America. Everyday Americans have easy access to information about the candidates. Today's Americans tend to be uninformed and uneducated about politics and public issues. The use of social media can help to inform these people. In the case of Trump, people should not be looking at what he is saying, but rather, why he is saying it. He is trying to point out others' issues to distract from his own flaws and short-falls. It reminds me of Joseph McCarthy accusing people of being communist whenever they spoke out against him...

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  17. I also disagree with this article. I think social media is a great way for candidates running for a certain position to campaign. Using social media would also be a great way for those candidates to reach out to the younger people. With the voting age being 18, it will help encourage the youth to be more involved and stay active in the campaigning process. This will be an easier way for them to promote their opinions and thoughts on different political affairs. The use of social media will keep the youth updated in presidential election of 2016.

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  19. I agree and disagree with this article. I believe that what Obama did with his social media, a picture on Instagram talking about what he's planning to do in a state, is completely fine and appropriate. For people like Donald trump, incompletely disagree. I first found out that Donald Trump was running for president on social media, but I thought it was a joke. This guy knows abolsultely nothing about politics and runs a tv show and is beyond wealth, so why would he run for president? He has gotten attention, not because of how good of a politician he is, rather, for his unfiltered comments about others and decisions he plans to make. With this negative attention, he is somehow getting positive acknowledgment from potential voters, and that's unacceptable. I don't plan on having Donald Trump be our next president and do believe social media has helped him with that chance, but if social media is used correctly and positively, then I don't see it being bad.

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  20. I disagree with this article as well. Social media is a way to be connected with millions of people all over the world. I think it is a smart move for the presidential candidates is to take advantage of these social media websites. Social media makes these candidates more personal to people. It is a great way to keep people informed on what is happening in the election and when events are being taken place. It also helps us Americans get to know the candidates running for office. Considering that most of the younger generations know absolutely nothing about politics, by using social media, the presidential candidates also connect to a younger generation. They target the youth and make them get involved and be informed.

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  21. Social media can be good or bad for any aspect. When politicians use social media to get their views out to the public, I see no problem. In our day and age, technology has evolved so much and has become and integral part of society. It makes sense that they would use social media to get their message out there and even get publicity in a "normal" daily way. For certain people, I think their using twitter is very inappropriate and useless. Donald Trump is just one example of someone who does not need to be using social media. He says and posts such inappropriate things, yet he is still highly looked up to in this election. When I heard he was running for president, I thought he was kidding. He has gotten more attention just for running for president, but not for being a great politician that would be a great candidate for the 2016 election. Donald Trump is a wealthy man who uses social media to manipulate votes for this election. He should by no means run our country, however, social media has helped his chances of being a top candidate and that is almost terrifying. In conclusion, social media can be good if you are using it for good things, however, not everyone does.

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