Canada's first social media election

摘要

Bolting together social media components and demonstrating an understanding of notions like branding and engagement allowed the Obama campaign to raise funds, organize locally and, most importantly, get out the vote in a key demographic that had been staying away from the polls in droves. By the time you read this, Canada's first social media federal election will be over. While all the major parties have opened their eyes and arms to social media, it's not quite the inspiring story that the Obama victory was. Social media-wise, the campaign hasn't been about engagement so much as alienation. A university student was denied access to a rally for Conservative leader Stephen Harper after a campaign aide spotted photos of her with Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff on her Facebook page. A Green party candidate in British Columbia resigned over a favourite quote on his Facebook page raised a furor.