THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN TODAY'S POLITICS
The last general election was the most intense and energizing one that I'd seen all my life. Well, that was like the first one I ever got to participate in, anyway. Still, I've been here for a while and have witnessed a number of campaigns and elections but not got this fierce that I witnessed.
It was this same election that sort of made me politically aware. I mean, in the past, I watched the news occasionally(cause I didn't have an option anyway, hope you get?) and I read the newspaper because it interested me. Oops, I didn't think of it like that previously until now, but what if the reason I preferred to read the papers than see the news is because I just like to read stuff? Makes sense to me.
Eish... I digress.
So yeah, the last election fuelled me with so much patriotism than I thought I ever had. I saw the network news every chance I got, I listened to the radio for news update very often, I listen to offline news and election talks that I never used to and I soaked up as much information as I could online. Political parties, manifesto, godfatherism, records of aspirants, and how the political world wo4ked all began to make sense to me. I did my findings and learned what u should. I even began to talk politics with my dad, my siblings, and some guys. I was very aware and up to date
I can say with every certainty that the last election was held first and majorly, online, before it was at the polls. The agendas, the discussion, the campaigns, the arguments, and the canvassing for votes by voters held massively there.
Aspirants used the platform to lay bare their intentions and to put forth their campaigns while voters trashed them, scrutinized them, and stood with their choices until the end. It was, after the protest of 2020, the biggest online/offline scandal that hit the country.
I remember through every five posts you passed, four were about the elections. It even seemed that online influencers and generally social media users put their businesses, private matters(even discord amongst themselves) on hold in order that they can support their candidate and effect change. It was force-full and very warming to see the participation and the zeal in my people. People(read as voters) gave their platforms, their voices, and their monies for their quest. Some even gave up relationships for contrary choices against theirs, which they perceived as threats to their wellbeing(maybe blame that on the tribalism card that was played hugely then).
Oh, there was so much that I learned then.
The youth are the more active people in society and as is common knowledge, they are found more on social media and with how powerful a tool these media platforms are, it's easier to reach a larger audience. Not to forget that some persons wield so much influence that others may easily buy into.
I think the one downside to the media space as it affects politics is that certain people may begin to hack false information and create tension between the aspirants and the people. So, if we just had to mean to make sure that only accurate news is shared, then all will be good.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!