Share
In recent years, the Internet has taken over television as the most effective way to spread information to the entire general public. Over the last 50 years, political talk shows, advertisements and debates have been a staple for mass media. It was only a matter of time before old-fashioned, rough and tumble politics were introduced to the fast-paced "World Wide Web," as politicians have found new ways to reach a new generation of voters.
Politicians running for office have used the Internet to make websites, raise money for their campaigns, and run videos on media streaming websites, such as "YouTube." Now, politicians and their campaigns have aimed their focus at yet another profitable way to influence the many voters out there: Reddit.
Reddit is one of the most viewed websites in the entire world, ranking No. 137 in total traffic received by the web information statistics company Alexa. In the U.S., Reddit ranks No. 66. Hence why our politicians have targeted it with a grin.
Recently, President Barack Obama and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who is running for the Libertarian Party, have used the Internet’s most impressive front page’s “Ask Me Anything” or AMA functions. With this function, website users are allowed to ask the person who put up the post anything they want. However, it is unknown how effective these online campaign events really are.
Virginia Tech freshman A.M Leingang likes the idea of using Reddit as a campaign strategy.
“I think it's a powerful tool to reach young, opinionated voters as well as answer any questions or concerns that anyone interested, whether from the U.S. or U.K., might possibly have,” he said.
Of course, politicians reaching out to younger voters, who are possibly easier to influence, is a valid plan to tip the popular vote into their favor. Unfortunately, this method seems to have some shortcomings. Obama spent thirty minutes on the AMA, but only ended up answering ten questions out of a total that exceeded thousands.
According to CBS News, there were a total of 34 million unique page views on the post. In a sense, this was quite successful in getting his name and a couple of his major points out in the public eye. However, Obama took a heavy amount of criticism for the types of questions he answered and the responses to those questions, with many claiming his answers were generic and could have been typed by anybody.
Virginia Tech freshman Hunter Vayer agreed with many skeptics. “The person conducting the AMA has the choice to answer any questions they want to and ignore any as well, making them prone to target simple questions with positive answers rather than controversial topics,” Vayer said.
Politics has become too much of a part of the media in general. Face it! Nobody can escape the political advertisements and events; they are literally everywhere. They are on the articles you read, on your Facebook page, on the YouTube videos you view, on your Pandora channels and on many gaming websites, not mentioning the ones played continuously on television. Now, politicians have invaded Reddit, trying to find new territory to make their mark.
In almost every sense, we can view this ploy as just another way for politicians to reach out to us and preach their position. It is all a matter of opinion. Some just want to forget the election is happening, while others want their voice to be heard. It is for the ones who desperately want a voice in our government, who approve of the presidential campaigns’ uses of Reddit and other media tools as well.
However, it would not hurt politicians to take a step back and let the American public live their lives without mention of the election every five minutes. It may get more people to listen during the times they do speak to the public. The candidates in this election have placed their mark on many websites. With little help to their own campaigns, they have resorted to using the world’s favorite front page. I am probably not alone when I say, “Take it somewhere else.”
A version of this article appeared in the Sep 28 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 25 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Whoa. Where to start with this article? When you use Word those little red squiggly lines mean you misspelled something. Why did YouTube get quotes, but not Reddit? Why would Obama want to influence voters in the UK? Don't use the word "literally" if you don't know what it means -- there's not a political event happening outside my door at the moment. Your editor should be ashamed this was printed.
Take it elsewhere, indeed.
Reply to this Top
Stretegy? You couldn't be bothered to spell check the title?
Reply to this Top
Another quality article from the Collegiate Times. Keep it up, guys! Spelling and grammar are just things the "elite" likes to "throw" around anyway.
Reply to this Top
Another quality article from the Collegiate Times. Keep it up, guys! Spelling and grammar are just things the "elite" likes to "throw" around anyway.
Reply to this Top
Their payin him to right, not spel.
Reply to this Top
The claims that Reddit's front page are "impressive" and "the world's favorite" are dubious. I know this because I read somewhere recently that Reddit only ranks No. 66 in terms of total page views in the U.S., not No. 1. Now where did I see that...
Reply to this Top
The claims that Reddit's front page are "impressive" and "the world's favorite" are dubious. I know this because I read somewhere recently that Reddit only ranks No. 66 in terms of total page views in the U.S., not No. 1. Now where did I see that...
Reply to this Top
The claims that Reddit's front page are "impressive" and "the world's favorite" are dubious. I know this because I read somewhere recently that Reddit only ranks No. 66 in terms of total page views in the U.S., not No. 1. Now where did I see that...
Reply to this Top
"campagin stretegy"
How is this okay with any editor/spell checker?
Reply to this Top
Alumnus here. We do read the CT still and so do prospective employers.
Ryan, I'm sure you've learned over the years that the internet is forever. You've got to do better than this. You are representing yourself, your professors, your college and your university. At least spell check your work before posting it.
Reply to this Top
There's one spelling error; cut the kid a break...
Reply to this Top
Guys, cut him some slack. Even his editor didn't catch those mistakes. Let it go. The article in general is really good!
Reply to this Top
What's your major?
Do yourself a favor and take a comm/journalism class.
Reply to this Top
No, no it really isn't.
Reply to this Top
The article really isn't great. There was no research done. If there had been, the author would have known that the reason Obama only answered 10 questions was because the insane amount of traffic to the website couldn't be handled by the servers and it kept 404ing
Reply to this Top
There really is no need to talk about the servers; it has nothing to do with the direction of the article, which is that politics and political advertising need to be taken somewhere else. The article is quite good. I think, however, you may want to state your opinion sooner rather than towards the end. It made it a bit of a slow read.
Reply to this Top
Ryan Turk, you have no idea what you are talking about.
Reply to this Top
Ryan, you are obviously not a Redditor. This kind of stuff is EXACTLY what people on Reddit want to read. By the way, I found this stupid article in a link from Reddit, where people are making fun of how silly you sound and how awful this article is. HAHAHA
Reply to this Top
Dude, I don't think Ryan cares what you think of his article; you're reading it aren't you! Plus the point he is trying to make is that politicians are everywhere and he just wants one medium where he isn't reminded of the election. And I kind of agree, although I think Reddit is a good place for it.
Reply to this Top
You're so dumb. You click on the person who posted it on Reddit and guess who it is? It's Ryan Turk. He's obviously a Redditor. I don't agree with his views, but just thought I'd point that out.
And Ryan, Reddit is the perfect place for the general public to receive responses on questions for politicians. But I agree with the fact that I dont wanna wait through political ads everytime I click Youtube videos.
Reply to this Top
I don't see why people continue to demand viewers "cut them some slack!" instead of demanding well written articles.
Reply to this Top
Covers 50% of part A deductible; Does not pay for part B deductible; Does not pay part <a href="http://www.thisisoffice.com/microsoft-office-2010-key-c-43.html">office 2010 business</a> B excess; Covers foreign travel emergency**Plan N: For copayment visits, includes 100% Part B Coverage except up to $20 for office and up to $50 copayment for Emergency room; Provides skilled nursing facility coinsurance; Pays part A deductible; Does not pay part B deductible; Does not pay part B excess; Covers foreign travel emergency***High Deductible Plan F pays the same benefits as Plan F after the insured has paid a $2000 calendar year deductible.
<a href="http://www.thisisoffice.com/" title="microsoft office 2010 professional">microsoft office 2010 professional</a>
Reply to this Top
While I do not agree with the opinion of this piece, I'm having a hard time finding the argument that politicians should not interact directly with potential voters using Reddit as a medium.
You claim that "politicians and their campaigns have aimed their focus at yet another profitable way to influence the many voters out there", yet at the end state, "With little help to their own campaigns, they have resorted to using the world’s favorite front page."
So which is it? To be honest, the answer doesn't matter, because you did not mention how close the two candidates are in the polls. Even a 'little help' could be enough to push any candidate into the presidency, yet its importance is not mentioned. There is probably some cause and effect here, yes? Something to think about.
Unfortunately, the piece sounds like a bit of a temper tantrum that a favorite place on the internet was invaded by the political machine. Facts are that Reddit is an appropriate venue for a politician to interact with voters. It has been given a great deal of legitimacy with the AMA pages, and even individual threads have made mainstream media (female Sikh university student photographed wearing turban and unabashedly sporting facial hair). It's not as if the candidates are trolling 4chan looking for votes.
Reply to this Top
Finally, if you want to live a life "without mention of the election every five minutes" , you can get off the crazy "World Wide Web" completely, power down the cable box and do something that does not involve real-time digital media. However, if a presidential candidate walks into the middle of your pick-up basketball game to stump for votes, I will definitely be more receptive to your opinion.
Reply to this Top
buy win 7 home.thank you.
Reply to this Top