The 2016 presidential election has been one of a kind. Never before have so many people been both politically informed and more importantly…interested!
Every single day, the internet is alight with conversations and headlines regarding the presidential debates, the latest scandals concerning both delegates, and who has the stronger policies.
People of all generations are debating and discussing their thoughts and views on both sides–it’s a welcome change to have so many participating in the conversation.
Not so long ago, the internet wasn’t abuzz like it is today with people across the globe weighing in with their opinions. So what’s different now?
The change started way back in 2012, when then soon-to-be President Barack Obama incorporated social media into his second campaign–and look at where it got him! Today, participating in social networking is absolutely vital when it comes to reaching a huge audience…especially the digital generation.
“A majority of U.S. adults – 62% – get news on social media” (Source: Pew Research Centre)
Social media has become a huge sharing platform for current affairs and news in general. This is something both candidates have realized, and implemented to it’s fullest.
Hillary Clinton is active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and Snapchat. She is also a LinkedIn Influencer. Her social presence was an extremely important part of her campaign, for example live “tweeting” during her speeches and keeping in constant contact with her followers’.
Donald Trump is famously on Facebook and Twitter, posting his views on a regular basis. He has a stronger following than Hillary and is especially active when it comes to communicating with the media and those who talk about him online.
During the election campaign, social media was highly useful in relaying the latest news coverage. For instance, Snapchat provided a live stream of the debates and allowed its users to share their comments and opinions, which gave the public a real chance to weigh in. Due to these online platforms enabling interaction at their fingertips, younger generations are becoming more politically involved and aware, which is really encouraging for the future of politics.
The online news wasn’t always favourable towards either party, but because social media enables fast responses, both candidates were able to address negative news right away. Both Hillary and Donald faced an extreme amount of damming news against them, however they were able to carefully work the social networks to divert or diffuse any undesirable attention.
Because of this mass coverage, the 2016 US election surpassed so many expectations and records. Not only was the world talking and providing easily accessible sources of up-to-date election information, but it also shared its insight. People from every corner of the Earth were participating in the conversation more than ever before.
Social media is used by all varieties of people, both personally and professionally. Whether it’s for the presidential elections or to share a cat meme, it’s a powerful tool for sharing information and stories with the world.
Just like Clinton and Trump, businesses use social media to promote themselves in front of large audiences. If your company doesn’t have an online presence, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of exposure and clientele. Just imagine if only one candidate had been on social media and the other had avoided it altogether? This is exactly how your business is affected if you don’t have a social presence, but your competition does.
At JTN, we help our clients generate a solid online presence, making sure that they are sending the right messages and using their social networks to their full capacity. If you’d like more information, get in touch. We are happy to have a chat!
