social media impact and influence on politics around the world
TRANSCRIPT
I m p a c t & I n f l u e n c e
o f S o c i a l M e d i a o n P o l i t i c s
24th October 2014, 9.30am – 12.00pm
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Nanyang Technological University
Guest Lecturer:
Spirit of Service
What is Social Media?
Hot Topics
• Best Deals • Country pride and Nationalism • Food • Funny / Gag • Generation Y • How to make money online • Love • Nostalgia • Parenting • Private information / Gossips • Something new/ unusual and cool
Reasons why people become socio political bloggers
Socio-Political Site/Blog • theonlinecitizen.com • Everythingalsocomplain.com • singaporedissident.blogspot.com • Thehardtruths.com • Thehearttruths.com • Therealsingapore.com • jentrifiedcitizen.wordpress.com/2012 • Singaporerebel.blogspot.com • Singaporearmchair.wordpress.com • Sgthinker.wordpress.com • www.mrbown.com • singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.com • yawningbread.wordpress.com • www.singaporewatch.org
What is Mainstream Media?
What is Politics?
Definition
• Original Greek : Of or Relating to Citizens
• Broad: It is a practice of influencing other
people on a global, civic or individual level.
• Narrow: It is achieving and exercising
positions of governance and organized control
over a state or a community.
What does Social Media & Politics have in common?
The common traits:
Connectedness – you know what I am doing, I
know what you are doing
Engagement – I know what you are saying, you
know what I am saying
Influence – I know you what you want, you know
what I want.
Impact of Social Media on Politics
#1 – No Anonymity
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#2 – No single source of information
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#3 – No more private space
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#4 – No more speed limit
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#5 – No more moderators
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#6 – No more objectivity
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#7 – No simple way of telling a story
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
#8 – No more absolute censorship
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT
So
cia
l M
ed
ia
Political
Parties
Politician Policy
People Platforms Propaganda
# 1 - Influence on Political Parties
Building perception on social media is more of
a strategic marathon than a tactical sprint before election.
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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties
Election is 2nd most popular topic in Singapore
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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties
You may win the battle on social media but the war is
won in the heart of the people
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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties
Crowd funding closes the financial gap among the
parties. Backers are passive but reliable supporters
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# 2 - Influence on Politicians
A social media taskforce is necessary to maintain
sustainability
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Most retweeted ever until……
# 2 - Influence on Politicians
A simple #hashtag can spark off a heart-warm or
hot movement
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#HappyBirthdayLKY
#OccupyCentral
# 2 - Influence on Politicians
Personal life of Ruling Party’s MPs are more heavily
examined than the Opposite’s
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# 2 - Influence on Politicians
There is no political opponents; only political
opportunities
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Malaysiakini bags Social Media
Excellence Award 2014
“Stop Spinning my words”
2013
# 2 - Influence on Politicians
With political opportunity, comes political opponent
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# 2 - Influence on Politicians
Personal Branding of Politician is the key to Success
for being the Person of Influence
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2011
2014
# 3 - Influence on Policies
Need to be Sensitive to the Big Picture
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# 3 - Influence on Policies
Policies can be great material for 9gag or Sgag
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# 3 - Influence on Policies
The new age campaigns must be both developmental and
collaborative
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# 4 - Influence on People
Credibility comes before Influence
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# 4 - Influence on People
Social Media can magnify any the voice of the minority
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# 4 - Influence on People
Any youth today can be a leader of the people
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# 4 - Influence on People
A suicide can ignite a revolution
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# 5 - Influence on Platforms
Anyone can be a reporter or a news maker
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# 5 - Influence on Platforms
Facebook is for local politics while Twitter allows
politicians to play a bigger game
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# 5 - Influence on Platforms
Social Media shares results much earlier than main
stream but it is not official until it is announced.
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# 5 - Influence on Platforms
Colour & Protest become new platforms for
connecting likeminded people. #firechat
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2005 1989
2009 2010
# 5 - Influence on Platforms
Raw videos are taken more seriously than edited ones
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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)
Online Mainstream media are using live blogging style
to give real time updated report (#occupycentral)
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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)
Without social media, not many will be kept informed
of the latest news
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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)
Mass Media provides the summary. Social Media
provides the sparks.
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Tabloid Social Media
Citizen Journalism
Major Press
Add Value; not just Content
A B C D E
Be Authentic early to build Authority
A B C D E
Cultivate Advocates to back up Policies
A B C D E
Dedicated to Respond to Criticism
A B C D E
Engage regularly and responsibly
A B C D E
• It is time to put influence on people back to politics which is very minimal now
• Government Social Media engagement with the people reflect how connected or disconnected they are with the people.
• Social Media is a neutral platform which influence and impact of the government can be built based on transparency and fairness.
• If the government is not using social media to influence the people, the people will use it to impact a change of government eventually.
• If politicians can’t influence the people, try changing their policies.
• If politicians won’t change the policies, then someone else will be voted in.
• If you are voted in, influence over others come gradually over time.
• Media becomes the key platform for opinions of the future. Election will be decided on platforms.
• The potential of social media is ever expanding, one day this potential can become the real power behind politics.
Polling
• Top 5 most popular politicians in Singapore?
• Top 5 most successful campaigns in Singapore?
• Top 10 most popular political sites in Singapore?
• Top 10 most popular socio-political blogs?
• What can politics learn from ALS campaign?
• What is the role of journalist in the future?
• What do you hope to see on social media for 2016 General Election?
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