Social media the new focus for political parties to reach voters
Posted Mar 31, 2019 12:06 am.
Last Updated Mar 31, 2019 4:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It is not surprising that most social media channels are filled with Alberta election talk.
Political campaigns are using Facebook, Twitter, text and Instagram to connect directly with voters.
Despite being relatively new to the election battles, Twitter isn’t the political powerhouse it once was according to conservative strategist Alise Mills.
Mills – who isn’t working on any campaigns in this election – says unlike back in the 2008 and 2012 election campaign, she is advising clients to stay away from that blusterous blue bird.
“Social media is sort of like screaming into a wind tunnel,” said Mills.
She feels twitter is dominated by people who have already made up their minds on who to vote for, adding their isn’t much room for new philosophies or ideologies.
That means good old-fashioned twitter tirades no longer move the dial in an election.
“Our money gets taken into Facebook and also YouTube and Instagram and other forms of conversations, but people who vote use Facebook and not Twitter.”
She sees a lot of value in the old-school campaign approaches like door knocking and meeting with voters face-to-face.
Technology may be favoured by the political parties as they try to circumvent traditional media coverage by speaking directly to voters.
