I m p a c t & I n f l u e n c e

o f S o c i a l M e d i a o n P o l i t i c s

24th October 2014, 9.30am – 12.00pm

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nanyang Technological University

Guest Lecturer:

Spirit of Service

What is Social Media?

Hot Topics

• Best Deals • Country pride and Nationalism • Food • Funny / Gag • Generation Y • How to make money online • Love • Nostalgia • Parenting • Private information / Gossips • Something new/ unusual and cool

Reasons why people become socio political bloggers

Socio-Political Site/Blog • theonlinecitizen.com • Everythingalsocomplain.com • singaporedissident.blogspot.com • Thehardtruths.com • Thehearttruths.com • Therealsingapore.com • jentrifiedcitizen.wordpress.com/2012 • Singaporerebel.blogspot.com • Singaporearmchair.wordpress.com • Sgthinker.wordpress.com • www.mrbown.com • singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.com • yawningbread.wordpress.com • www.singaporewatch.org

What is Mainstream Media?

What is Politics?

Definition

• Original Greek : Of or Relating to Citizens

• Broad: It is a practice of influencing other

people on a global, civic or individual level.

• Narrow: It is achieving and exercising

positions of governance and organized control

over a state or a community.

What does Social Media & Politics have in common?

The common traits:

Connectedness – you know what I am doing, I

know what you are doing

Engagement – I know what you are saying, you

know what I am saying

Influence – I know you what you want, you know

what I want.

Impact of Social Media on Politics

#1 – No Anonymity

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#2 – No single source of information

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#3 – No more private space

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#4 – No more speed limit

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#5 – No more moderators

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#6 – No more objectivity

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#7 – No simple way of telling a story

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

#8 – No more absolute censorship

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

So

cia

l M

ed

ia

Political

Parties

Politician Policy

People Platforms Propaganda

# 1 - Influence on Political Parties

Building perception on social media is more of

a strategic marathon than a tactical sprint before election.

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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties

Election is 2nd most popular topic in Singapore

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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties

You may win the battle on social media but the war is

won in the heart of the people

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# 1 - Influence on Political Parties

Crowd funding closes the financial gap among the

parties. Backers are passive but reliable supporters

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# 2 - Influence on Politicians

A social media taskforce is necessary to maintain

sustainability

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Most retweeted ever until……

# 2 - Influence on Politicians

A simple #hashtag can spark off a heart-warm or

hot movement

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#HappyBirthdayLKY

#OccupyCentral

# 2 - Influence on Politicians

Personal life of Ruling Party’s MPs are more heavily

examined than the Opposite’s

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# 2 - Influence on Politicians

There is no political opponents; only political

opportunities

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Malaysiakini bags Social Media

Excellence Award 2014

“Stop Spinning my words”

2013

# 2 - Influence on Politicians

With political opportunity, comes political opponent

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# 2 - Influence on Politicians

Personal Branding of Politician is the key to Success

for being the Person of Influence

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2011

2014

# 3 - Influence on Policies

Need to be Sensitive to the Big Picture

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# 3 - Influence on Policies

Policies can be great material for 9gag or Sgag

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# 3 - Influence on Policies

The new age campaigns must be both developmental and

collaborative

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# 4 - Influence on People

Credibility comes before Influence

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# 4 - Influence on People

Social Media can magnify any the voice of the minority

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# 4 - Influence on People

Any youth today can be a leader of the people

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# 4 - Influence on People

A suicide can ignite a revolution

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# 5 - Influence on Platforms

Anyone can be a reporter or a news maker

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# 5 - Influence on Platforms

Facebook is for local politics while Twitter allows

politicians to play a bigger game

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# 5 - Influence on Platforms

Social Media shares results much earlier than main

stream but it is not official until it is announced.

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# 5 - Influence on Platforms

Colour & Protest become new platforms for

connecting likeminded people. #firechat

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2005 1989

2009 2010

# 5 - Influence on Platforms

Raw videos are taken more seriously than edited ones

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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)

Online Mainstream media are using live blogging style

to give real time updated report (#occupycentral)

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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)

Without social media, not many will be kept informed

of the latest news

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# 6 - Influence on Propaganda (Mainstream Media)

Mass Media provides the summary. Social Media

provides the sparks.

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Tabloid Social Media

Citizen Journalism

Major Press

Add Value; not just Content

A B C D E

Be Authentic early to build Authority

A B C D E

Cultivate Advocates to back up Policies

A B C D E

Dedicated to Respond to Criticism

A B C D E

Engage regularly and responsibly

A B C D E

• It is time to put influence on people back to politics which is very minimal now

• Government Social Media engagement with the people reflect how connected or disconnected they are with the people.

• Social Media is a neutral platform which influence and impact of the government can be built based on transparency and fairness.

• If the government is not using social media to influence the people, the people will use it to impact a change of government eventually.

• If politicians can’t influence the people, try changing their policies.

• If politicians won’t change the policies, then someone else will be voted in.

• If you are voted in, influence over others come gradually over time.

• Media becomes the key platform for opinions of the future. Election will be decided on platforms.

• The potential of social media is ever expanding, one day this potential can become the real power behind politics.

Polling

• Top 5 most popular politicians in Singapore?

• Top 5 most successful campaigns in Singapore?

• Top 10 most popular political sites in Singapore?

• Top 10 most popular socio-political blogs?

• What can politics learn from ALS campaign?

• What is the role of journalist in the future?

• What do you hope to see on social media for 2016 General Election?

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