Internet the new political battleground

Home and abroad, politics is significantly impacted by technology. Many people turn to their favourite Internet sites — Youtube, Facebook and Twitter — to keep abreast of politics across the country and the globe. Increasing adoption of smartphones provides a forum for political discourse.

In the ongoing campaigns in the United States, the top candidates are turning to technology to fight their way to White House.

The last US elections brought to the fore the power of digital technology in politics. Digital technology — including text messaging and social media — was a crucial part of President Barack Obama’s electoral success in 2008 and 2012.

Mrs Hillary Clinton, Obama’s primary opponent in 2008, was less digitally competitive during her first White House bid, but she’s making a bigger push now, even hiring a number of former Obama operatives to lead her team.

Social media gives candidates a direct line of communication. In Kenya, all the leading politicians have aides who update their social media platforms several times a day, showing the events their bosses are involved in and how they matter to Kenyans.

They use the same platforms to gauge public mood, and to collect and collate their feedback.

On the flip side, social media is an uncontrolled, democratised soap box where people can spread unsubstantiated opinions that can change the public’s view of a candidate overnight.

Kenyans’ creativity juice flows when something funny gets to the public stage. Nifty free apps help them pass the message graphically and speedily. Some patched up photos and videos look so urbane that a casual eye could easily take them as true.

CANDIDATES UNDER SCRUTINY

During an election, candidates are always under the microscope, with new technology allowing the media to watch them even more closely.

Social media runs in real time, and with the wide variety of channels to choose from, candidates’ words are replayed, dissected and replayed. Once something hits the Web, it stays there forever. The Internet has a lasting memory.

Candidates now need to live under the assumption that there is always someone with a smartphone, camera, microphone or other recording device capturing their actions to share with the world.

While this constant monitoring has brought more transparency to elections, it has also brought more sensationalism, reducing political coverage to paparazzi-style reporting.

Before the news hits our TV screens at prime time, the day’s news is already circulating in social media channels.

And as we feverishly share juicy information, mobile service providers are busy selling data bundles and laughing all the way to the bank.

Every little word that candidates utter has the potential to go viral. We have seen debates about a politician’s torn socks, worn-out shoes, someone being whipped or a photo of a politician having some forty winks trending on social media.

Nothing is off limits. Candidates’ family members are targeted on social media, and their words and actions are turned into inglorious memes.
Granted, there are many voters who do not use the social media.

But what plays out on the online social media ends up in text messages and WhatsApp forums where the majority of Kenyans interact.

The bottom line: candidates must be up to date with technology, otherwise they will be viewed as outdated and irrelevant. And they must have thick skins as many people hide under the relative anonymity of the social media to settle scores.

The more that candidates are in touch with technology, the more voters they will reach.

Understanding new technologies and trends is a key part of connecting with voters and running a successful campaign.

Wambugu is an informatics specialist. [email protected] @samwambugu2