How Politicians Use Social Media
wahl.de
In the year of the German election, wahl.de analyses and quantifies politicians usage of social media platforms like twitter, facebook, youtube, etc.
wahl.de
This talk addresses the technical infrastructures, political institutions, and social practices that shape the contemporary electoral process in the United States. I provide a theoretical overview of the role of artifacts in shaping the practices of citizenship and detail the history of networked technologies in campaigning over the last twenty years as they have become incorporated into a repertoire of electoral practices among political consultants. Through consideration of the 2003-2004 Howard Dean campaign and 2007-2008 Obama campaign I demonstrate how peer networks supported by social media are structured by formal campaign organizations. I conclude by assessing the implications of these technical practices for democratic citizenship.