Social media is set to have “an unprecedented impact” on the forthcoming election, as rival politicians use sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach potential voters.
Social media is set to have “an unprecedented impact” on the forthcoming election, as rival politicians use sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach potential voters.

That is according to the Daily Telegraph, which points out that Tony Blair’s infamous communications chief, Alastair Campbell, so effective in his manipulation of mainstream media channels, could only have dreamed of the ability to issue rebuttals or spin stories as quickly as Twitter, for example, allows.

The role of digital in Barack Obama’s march towards the White House has been well documented. He was able to effectively communicate with hard-to-reach audiences via the internet and, crucially, was able to translate that digital support into votes come polling day.

Paul Staines, aka influential political blogger Guido Fawkes, suggests that this is the key, the Telegraph reports.

In a debate last month he downplayed the role of social media, suggesting that the medium reached those already with a vested interest in politics.

However, the magnitude of coverage garnered in traditional media channels by the parties’ digital campaigns, and the hijacking of those campaigns by the digitally creative, suggests otherwise.

Mydavidcameron.com sparked huge interest and a number of mischievously altered campaign posters, while Labour is using a digital campaign to fashion their new creative.

Both David Cameron and Gordon Brown have used YouTube, with varying degrees of success.

Physical votes come polling day are, of course, the bottom line. But well directed social media campaigns could well prove a crucial factor in mobilising support.

Bron: IAB uk