Social Media and Elections
How social media platforms have transformed election campaigns, voter mobilization, and the spread of political information and misinformation.
Campaigns Go Digital
Barack Obama's 2008 campaign is widely credited as the first to harness social media effectively, raising over $500 million online and building volunteer networks through Facebook and MySpace. By 2016, social media had become the primary battleground. Donald Trump's campaign spent heavily on Facebook micro-targeting, while Hillary Clinton's campaign invested more in traditional TV advertising.
Social media allows campaigns to bypass traditional media gatekeepers entirely. Politicians can speak directly to voters, test messages in real time, and target specific demographics with tailored content. This has democratized campaigning in some ways — lesser-known candidates can build followings without major party backing — but it has also enabled unprecedented levels of micro-targeting based on personal data.
