#wk5post

As vulnerable YumCha consumers, we trust the dishes we order are cooked and prepared under healthy conditions. That washed hands rolled our dumplings and clean water boiled out noodles. likewise, we tend to assume the information we assess via social media was created by 'qualified chefs' of the info-cuisine. Their sources were plunked fresh from the soils and only a dash of personal opinion added to avoid a salty bias. Responsibility of quality must also be ascribed to the carriers of our food, the waiter and/or waitress; keeping keen watch they don't drop our dish serving a crumbled, muddle version of the tasty original.  Information disseminated is a general issue for social media. However it is a particular concern for political figures, especially in times of election. You'd be skeptical to go to a YumCha restaurant if it was run by general consumers, the public. The legitimacy, experience and intention isn't clear nor guaranteed to be safe. Facebook is similar in regard to information. Meme's, Facebook pages and shared footage is rarely professionally produced. This concept of self produced and distributed media is understood as 'social journalism'. The newfound ability given to the general internet user to publish and distribute information via personal mediums (created memes, iPhone footage and images) (Grabovic, 2014). This is an important consideration for Australian politics. With young adults (18-24) making up 30% of the electoral (Sidiot 2013) and making 25% of australian face book users, it can not be disregarded how they are represented on Facebook networks. In the past we have seen this provide help and hinder the labour parties election campaigns. This 'social journalist' content also anchoring particular news bulletins.  'Kevin '07' anchored the 2007 Labour election campaign. The slogan became representative of Kevin Rudd's relatable Australian laid-back personality, with his youth appealing dad jokes. 

This online presence responded well with youths on social media, resulting a vast cult following depicted above. However this socio0political force has proven to harm the labour party as much as it helped previously. Julia Gillard was subjected to vast criticism. Arguably, the criticism barely regarded her political endeavours, but rather her unfortunate personal qualities - red hair, female, accent, hairdresser husband and the carbon tax brouhaha. Pages such as the following are prominent on Facebook, leading to her overthrow of labour party leading in anticipation of the 2012 election. 

With the ever prevalent use of social media in young society it is becoming more important for politicians to embrace networks and platforms as a way of expanding their following and creating continual support. Today a political election cannot be run without the interference of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms broadcasting information on the running candidates either from the general public, journalists or political figures themselves. While utilizing this type of media strategy aims to reach a broader audience at a more rapid pace in a way that is more relatable, it is only effective if used frequently and the political teams are able to use the platforms correctly otherwise social media can lead to their political downfall.

  In Australian politics the embracement of social media by politicians has been slow and in many cases misused. For those trying to reach their audience and not alienate there needs to be integration between traditional forms of media communication. Our aging demographic means that newspapers, radio and television are effective in reaching large masses who have grown up around the usual technology, the struggle for many politicians is being able to reconstruct their messages for social media to allow them to compliment the styles of interaction online. For instance Kevin Rudd utilized Youtube to broadcast his campaign messages but instead of creating an informal video that makes him relatable to the younger generation the video mimicked his usual campaign speeches, coming of cold, political and unrelatable to many. He did not differ from his traditional form of communication just replicated it on a new platform and was ineffective.

  If social media is going to become an inescapable tool for political campaigning in the future politicians need to understand how to use the medium appropriately as every comment, picture or stance leaves a traceable footprint on the internet even if only visible for a second. Misuse can lead to political demise or create a distrust in the public rather than creating a continual bond. Politicians like Martin Turnbull are able to use Twitter as a platform effectively as he is an active participant, he responds to critics and thrives from debate but practices restraint. It is about knowing what to post and when, as not to look lazy but appear interested in the public. Politicians like Tony Abbot have failed to have the same effect on the online social environment, becoming a broadcaster rather than a communicator.

Politics and social media don’t seem like two things that go together. BUT, they do. Obama’s 2008 campaign was heavily involved in the use of social media to attract more votes from a younger audience. The success of the campaign speaks for itself. (Just as a side note, when I googled the phrase 'social media and politics,' a lot of the images that came up were from or related to Obama's campaign.) But Australian politicians do not seem to use social media to their advantage.

Of course there are Facebook and Twitter accounts which represent various politicians but there is no sense of personal interaction. (Jericho 2009, p. 296) The content posted on these pages is generally updates of what the party has been doing that week. The comments sections can be more interactive although responses are usually from a party representative which, in my opinion, is disappointing.

I am not heavily involved in politics for reasons that I do not wish to share over the internet but I will say that my respect for politicians and interest in the subject would rise if, for example, Tony Abbott were to take the time to reply to me personally. Now, it's unrealistic to expect a reply for every Facebook comment or tweet that comes their way. But I think that it would only take a few replies each day to change their image in the minds of our generation.

There are a few reasons as to why Australian politicians may not use social media to their advantage. In comparison with America, voting is compulsory in Australia and so politicians do not need to engage people on the same level to obtain votes. Australia is an ageing population which means that there is an older generation who still receive most of their news via mainstream media. It makes sense to still use avenues like television and radio but Australians under 30 are the future of this country and it seems foolish not to appeal to them too. How can young Australians hope to identify with people like Tony Abbot when they can’t make the effort to connect via social media platforms? Maybe politicians fear what social media can do? Social media platforms allow for a lot of freedom of speech and by participating fully in social media practices means accepting that they cannot completely control online culture. But if they created content which included parts of their everyday normalcy, it allows the public to connect with them on a more personal level. After all, aren't politicians supposed to represent the public? They tell us that they know what we want, so show us. By presenting to us that they really are members of the public who like Chinese food or the new Hunger Game movie, they’d be much easier to relate to and maybe even more likely to gain votes from those of us under 30.  Kevin Rudd has used social media in the past to his advantage. Last year we saw the following tweet:

Which links us to this image:

I love this! It shows us he is normal and does everyday things like shave. Plus, and we can all get a bit of a laugh out of Kevin Rudd taking a selfie. Positing it via Twitter and Instagram shows that he is connected across a range of platforms and that he is willing to connect with his followers. 

If more politicians were like this, I think that I would be more inclined to take an interest in politics. 

Digital Citizenship- Week 5

Bitches get stuff done! See Tina Fey is all about female politicians, just get your stuff done (Palin)! Otherwise impressions are out to get you Anyway...

This week it was an interesting week to see how social media is actually playing a vital role in the life we live in now, and even how it will contribute to the way our lives will be run by our governments.

I like to look at how the political campaigns affected me in the last campaign and whether I actually consciously was aware of all the media stunts and promises they were advertising. First I will look at the local interactions via digital communication (social media) and how it affected myself, family and friends.

So with local communities, the only real aspect of social media I saw, were none. They stuck to the casual way of sending out flyers and having lots of signs (mediums) all around school zones and popular areas in most community areas. The simple fact that a local government won’t be able to have the funds and let alone the sources to find out who is on twitter or anything in the area. This is a huge GAP that the local governments should utilize so they can win support, but how?

I could only suggest the possibility of a flyer (old medium) to promote the new way the campaigns are run and advertised (through social media/websites), which i'm sure they are possibly doing already, if not then they are losing support.

Next we can look at state, the use of television and advertisement is limited for state elections in all honesty, I can’t even remember the last two state elections because they were poorly advertised and promoted through either social media or even through Television.

But the most important level is the federal government. This is where laws are closest to being made and the leaders of Australia are situated. Where to start with the complete incompetence of either sides of the marketing and publicity in politics today.

Without this being a frustrating and attacking blog I’ll just outline the ways social media is helping and not helping politicians in their race to become the leader of Australia.

So how do government candidates publicly announce their leadership abilities and message to their audiences? Out of the many, the one I most interesting would be the use of presidential like address to the Australian public. Link in post above, but this ad signifies Tony Abbott is promoting integrity, professionalism and pointing out the flaws of the Labor party which connects to all young and old viewers.

Now this only being one form of media, we look at twitter, Facebook and other media sources. How has it affected me through these platforms? Through Facebook, ads have popped up throughout the news feed because it is now monitored and controlled by governments. Giving friendly ads to make users click the link to the desired location of the article, etc. Twitter and the use of hash tags and sharing, Kevin Rudd used the ‘Selfie’ technique to riddle in young users but all in all that failed because he did it with primary school kids mostly, whom were told to do it.

From what I remember, children cannot vote nor will it change the way parents will think of political views of that certain leader. Its an interesting concept of how social media trends are becoming more and more involved with everything in our lives. From everyone loving to share their lives ‘online’ and having this ‘always on’ approach, to television promoting twitter and Facebook to follow your favorite X-factor singers, to now political campaigns of people following Presidents online.

Jericho (2012, pp. 323) states that when the breakthrough moment of when a generation of politicians who have a life lived on social media take the stage, will be an interesting sight to see on how they handle it and how everything will be changed. But President Obama is right, 'careful about what you post on Facebook' because it can reflect those of a generation who not only can recall a time without Facebook, but a time without the internet.

The real questions that lays ahead of us (regarding this topic) is;

• What will become of the future of social media in terms of politics? and; • In what way will it change the way we view political parties?

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