How Does Social Media Influence Voter Participation?

Social media is a powerful tool, it offers an online medium that has the ability to bring millions of individuals together daily. Due to instant connections available through social media, information is moving faster than it ever has before.The American Marketing Association found that in 2015 there were 1.96 billion social media users with an estimated 2.44 billion users to be in 2018 (“ Number of Social Network Users Worldwide). Politics is one topic that users of social media can not stay away from. Networks such as Twitter and Facebook have been mediums for the discussion of politics for years. Social media influencing voter participation, strengthening the relationships between voters and politicians, as well as affecting individuals

Politicians want to see the masses get out and vote in their next election. Social media has means to help the issue of low voter participation within the campaign. Research involving social media and its relationship to voter turnout was conducted by Elizabeth Housholder. The study "Political social media engagement" involved 1,628 internet users, who were subject to surveys regarding online participation with politics and its relation to real world participation. The study analyzed these individuals amount of social media engagements with politics, such as following or liking politicians pages, starting political groups, or participating in online political activities. That data was then compared with the dependent variables of whether an individual donated to a political party, whether an individual volunteered for a campaign online, and vote choice in the election. It was found that those individuals who did engage with a campaign through social media increased their likelihood of voting by three times, and it was also found that interacting with a campaign on social media positively predicted vote choice. It was stated in the study's conclusion that "social media efforts produce both online and offline benefits that can help achieve key campaign goals." (Housholder and Lamarre) This study uses quantitative data to suggest the effects that social media can have on real world politics and directly relates

A political leader expresses their views and plans for reform in the system, while millions of Americans look on either in person, or through a television. Things have changed as social media allows for back and forth interactions of individuals. To share thoughts and ideas between politicians and voters, as well as voter to voter is a great way to spread information and further politics. A favorite can express agreement for a statement while a retweet spreads the message even further. Political leaders also hold these online profiles, President Obama holds the third most followed twitter page in the world racking in 65.6 million followers. Tweeting to power is a book which looks at the power of social media and politics. Jason Gainous and Kevin Wagner speak of how audiences have changed from being passive, to being able to participate in the discussion through the power of social media. It is stated that social media allows for "interaction without regard to geography." (Ganious and Wagner). Within minutes thousands of people may have seen a message or a post and may interact with these post expressing their own views. Through social media, back and fourth connections are made possible. Politicians are brought down from being giant unreachable celebrities, to everyday people with a Twitter profile. Individuals no longer have to wait for the next political debate or a rally to take in