Social Media and the Politician

I am not a politician nor will I probably (mayorship is enticing, but not in my five-year plan) ever be one. However, there are many reasons why this presidential campaign differs from those in the past. President Obama understood the importance of connecting with his voters in a unique way that is now more important […]

Would politicians pass my communications classes?

There are many aspects of the Media Richness Theory and social media in general that can aid politicians running for the 2016 Election. While in this process of promoting themselves and their ideas for election, politicians need to find an effective way of promoting information. According to Information Richness: A New Approach to Managerial Behavior […]

Video: What is a Curator?

This is a video I made for my Social Media course at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. I’m a museum professional at Syracuse University and the number one question I get asked about my life as a museum professional is: What is a Curator? I briefly explain what curators do in […]

Advice for 2016 Presidential Candidates

I’ve spent the last week on the presidential campaign trail in New Hampshire. It seems that the Media Richness Theory aligns with the strategy of candidates that did well in the New Hampshire primaries. My advice to the candidates is to have as much in-person communication with the voters and when that is not possible, […]

What is a Fitbit bracelet?

This is an explainer video explaining what a Fitbit is and what’s up with the Fitbit phenomenon. -Anna Dussing

NFL Playoffs Social Media Activity

The graphs and charts used to make these conclusions were all collected from an analysis of social media activity surrounding the NFL playoffs in January. We used Sysomos to analyze the use of the hashtag “#nflplayoffs” at that time. From looking at the social media activity it is interesting to see that most of their […]

Politician’s Double-Edged Sword

Simultaneously, Twitter is used to showcase a celebrity’s disregard of social norms and update tense situations in war-torn countries. At the same time, reputations are created and destroyed. Although the same can be said of other social media platforms, Twitter has withstood the test of time not only because of its popularity but also because of the […]

Social Media for Polticians

When it comes to social media, it is most necessary for politicians to have as close to a face-to-face relationship with voters as possible. Through the use of social media, my best advice to achieve that face-to-face communication would be for politicians to use Facebook, Vine, Instagram and Snapchat as often as possible. According to the media richness theory, the most effective communication happens when the parties involved can see, listen, react, and respond to the communication. The least effective methods of communication are impersonal, written documents and bulk mail.

Social media reaches a younger generation of voters and humanizes candidates. Through social media, candidates appear as more than politicians and are more relatable to users and voters.

Pancakes, coffee, and laughs in Manchester, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/FQj9lxiDDb

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 8, 2016

According to an article on Recode.net, comScore audience research audience says that a whopping 71 percent of American users on Snapchat are between the ages of 18-34. ComScore’s research also shows that 45 percent of Snapchat’s users are 18 to 24 years old, a vital reach for candidates looking to attract the newest voters. The same study shows that 49 percent of Instagram users and 51 percent of Vine users are between the ages and 18-34.

A study by ORI and the George Washington Graduate School of Political Management shows 29 percent of people said that during the 2012 election they were moderately to extremely influenced by social media. Forty percent said that they engaged in a political discussion on social media, and 19 percent made a contribution specifically through Facebook.

With Twitter on a decline of acquiring new users, only 41 percent of its users are between the ages of 18-34 (according to the study by comScore). Twitter isn’t as rich, according to the media richness theory, because it doesn’t allow for much face-to-face communication. While you can upload videos on Twitter, the platform is typically used for 140 character tweets and sometimes photos. Twitter is still effective, but candidates should try their luck with other applications for video use.

“You deserve justice, and you deserve equality under the law.”https://t.co/BwgF3FxvB2

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 7, 2016

Video apps seem to have the most media richness, allowing for more connectivity with viewers and users. Through Snapchat, users should be able to ask candidates questions and candidates can respond to those questions and address other topics. Through Instagram and Vine they can post videos and respond to comments and can engage in further discussion through Facebook.

GROUPTHINK AND SOCIAL IDENTITY CONNECTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA

This presentation will examine the relationship between these communication theories and modern social media, as well as provide examples of these connections. Groupthink Theory, communication theory created by Irving Janiswhere a consensus is developed in the group but is not reviewed for issues or problems that might occur. Social Identity Theory, a communication theory created by Henri Tajfel and John Turner where people select their […]