The Internet & Politics
Brittney Shindledecker, Joseph Foster, Keisha Burns, Scott Pineda
The internet has affected society in a variety of different ways. One area that has been affected greatly is politics. Now internet users of all ages have easy access to both true and false information about politicians, political campaigns, stances on certain important issues affecting America, and many other aspects of politics and political campaigns. Users can view Barack Obama’s Twitter feed, view Mitt Romney’s Facebook page, and even get on the White House web site to find information about important debates, the administration, and our government. A wide variety of information is now available for individual’s to browse through and develop their own political view about what’s going on in America and who people should vote for in upcoming elections.
With this increased access to the internet and information about politics in our society, people of various ages have begun using the internet as a source to gain political information, raise awareness, and voice various opinions on politics, candidates, campaigns, and political views of others. Over the years many individuals have started using the internet as a credible source to gain access to information on political candidates. Users can look up Obama’s view on taxes, health care laws, and whatever information they are curious about. Not all of the information users come across can be considered valid which means users need to consider which sources on the internet can be considered a credible source for information. Many studies have looked at what sources individuals consider credible sources of information and how individuals perceive the information the find online.
The internet also allows individuals to be exposed to political views that differ from their own. This exposure can allow individuals to gain access to information that may not have otherwise been looking for. This new abundance of information could change how individuals feel about their own or opposing candidates. This information could also confirm their previous thoughts and assumptions about candidates and political situations. Being exposed to similar and opposing views can influence individuals to vote and who to vote for. For this reason and many others, the internet serves as a source of social influence for many people. Through online postings, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and news sources people are able to obtain information on candidates and political situations which may be true or made up. Individuals need to take the time to make sure the information they are receiving comes from a credible source of information. Individuals may also see online postings from candidates’ media teams, such as Obama’s Twitter. People may find this information to be more credible because it is coming from the candidate or a member of the candidate’s team. The credibility of internet sources for political information is one that people will have to continue to monitor as they research a candidate's political stance and views on important issues affecting each of us.
When using these internet sources to gather information about politics, it is one thing to voice your opinion online to show that you are politically active but in the real world, what is being accomplished? The idea of political and civic engagement is that people are actually getting out in their communities and contributing to there community by going to town hall events, putting up flyers advertising the next election day, getting others and yourself to vote, and fixing the issues and problems in the community that others show concern over to provide a cohesive community. There is an idea that setting up groups on social networking sites can actually facilitate these acts of engagement online which then in return causes people to get out in the community to form campaigns for issues and view points that they feel are beneficial in helping the community they live in.
With this increased access to the internet and information about politics in our society, people of various ages have begun using the internet as a source to gain political information, raise awareness, and voice various opinions on politics, candidates, campaigns, and political views of others. Over the years many individuals have started using the internet as a credible source to gain access to information on political candidates. Users can look up Obama’s view on taxes, health care laws, and whatever information they are curious about. Not all of the information users come across can be considered valid which means users need to consider which sources on the internet can be considered a credible source for information. Many studies have looked at what sources individuals consider credible sources of information and how individuals perceive the information the find online.
The internet also allows individuals to be exposed to political views that differ from their own. This exposure can allow individuals to gain access to information that may not have otherwise been looking for. This new abundance of information could change how individuals feel about their own or opposing candidates. This information could also confirm their previous thoughts and assumptions about candidates and political situations. Being exposed to similar and opposing views can influence individuals to vote and who to vote for. For this reason and many others, the internet serves as a source of social influence for many people. Through online postings, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and news sources people are able to obtain information on candidates and political situations which may be true or made up. Individuals need to take the time to make sure the information they are receiving comes from a credible source of information. Individuals may also see online postings from candidates’ media teams, such as Obama’s Twitter. People may find this information to be more credible because it is coming from the candidate or a member of the candidate’s team. The credibility of internet sources for political information is one that people will have to continue to monitor as they research a candidate's political stance and views on important issues affecting each of us.
When using these internet sources to gather information about politics, it is one thing to voice your opinion online to show that you are politically active but in the real world, what is being accomplished? The idea of political and civic engagement is that people are actually getting out in their communities and contributing to there community by going to town hall events, putting up flyers advertising the next election day, getting others and yourself to vote, and fixing the issues and problems in the community that others show concern over to provide a cohesive community. There is an idea that setting up groups on social networking sites can actually facilitate these acts of engagement online which then in return causes people to get out in the community to form campaigns for issues and view points that they feel are beneficial in helping the community they live in.