Eschewing the big, concert-like events, Former First Lady of the US, former Senator and former Secertary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that she would be running for President of the United States in 2016. If she succeeds, she will possibly be the world's most powerful woman and person. And in a twist, she did it via a short, 2-min YouTube video. Let's have a look at it.
But why? Why would someone, anyone doing as important as announcing their intentions to run for position as the head of a superpower break with tradition and release a low-key video? Isn't the point of politics to be as loud as possible to get your name out?
Maybe not.
In 2008, a Senator from Illinois deftly used the Internet to win an election. His name is Barack Obama. You might recognise that name. He's the current President of the United States.
In this day and age, politicians of all stripes need to use the new medium of the Internet as deftly as they did TV and Radio. With smartphone penetration at such a high rate,a good majority of the electorate now possess a means or a way to connect to the Internet. This infographic will explain why.
But why? Why would someone, anyone doing as important as announcing their intentions to run for position as the head of a superpower break with tradition and release a low-key video? Isn't the point of politics to be as loud as possible to get your name out?
Maybe not.
In 2008, a Senator from Illinois deftly used the Internet to win an election. His name is Barack Obama. You might recognise that name. He's the current President of the United States.
In this day and age, politicians of all stripes need to use the new medium of the Internet as deftly as they did TV and Radio. With smartphone penetration at such a high rate,a good majority of the electorate now possess a means or a way to connect to the Internet. This infographic will explain why.
True, more time is spent in front of the TV then on YouTube watching videos BUT don't forget. Most of the time spent on TV, we're not paying attention to it. Well, at least the younger ones are not ... and we are the future voters. So if politicians don't start paying attention to the Internet now, it's gonna be too late for them when they realise they need to. Mastering the Internet as a means of communication will be difficult, especially with all the distractions online. However, as with TV and Radio, practice makes perfect.
But this also assumes that we are politically engaged - which not all of us are. Politicians recognise this problem and are hence taking the steps to engage the electorate.
Let's take the current British Parlimentary Elections as an example. Compared to the previous election in 2010, parties are doing what they can in this one to up voter engagement amongst the young by capitalising on social media. The below shows the current penetration on social media.
Now I wonder...when it is Singapore's turn, how will our parties do?
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