Social Media's Role in Politics

In our modern society social media plays a daily role is people's lives.  Facebook especially allows us to post our thoughts, promote events, and like particular brands, music and movies.  But how much does social media effect government policies?


Two recent events have showed just how much sway social media and sites such as Google and Wikipedia have on public policies.  When the SOPA bill was looking like it was going to be passed in Congress it was the influence of the internet that shut it down.  Protests on social media sites as well as superpower sites such as Wikipedia drummed up millions of signatures and emails protesting the bill.  It was met with such an outcry that the bill was never passed.

Weeks later the power of the internet was again displayed during the Komen Fiasco.  The immediate outcry on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and forums caused the organization to reverse their decision to pull donations from Planned Parenthood.


Social media is beginning to reach its full potential in politics by not only gaugeing public opinion but also for drumming up support for political candidates.  Social media is not just for teenagers anymore, it is a powerful tool that literally is changing the face of politics in the United States.


For more on social media's role in the goverment click on this Washington Post Article