Is social media addictive?

Eddy Jackson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:28:32 +0000

Social media is addictive state Fox News:

New Politics, the Internet and Social Media

Eddy Jackson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:20:08 +0000

New Politics

As a frontline operator providing an essential service, I need to have a sharp understanding of politicians, their decision-making and impact. Private, public or charity organizations need insights into the factors that impact upon their viability in the current economic context.

Janet Daly’s powerful critique in the Sunday Telegraph on ‘New Politics’ gives a brilliant analysis of issues facing ministers and leaders who use misleading catch phrases to hide brutal intentions. Specifically, David Cameron and Andrew Lansley NHS Health Reforms that are taking a hammering in the House of Lords. George Osborne statements on the economy and the debt crisis hide amazing indifference to pain inflicted upon the electorate.

By not being straight talkers and pandering to ‘New Politics’ as the new pervasive form of modern political marketing, politicians personalities are packaged as products or ideas that manipulated to suit different audiences in attempts to win elections.

A politicians’ ability to be articulate through straight talking gets lost in the packaging and media marketing process. This creates public anger because they are not allowed to clearly address how to successfully manage toxic issues – the truth hurts. The ‘New Politics’ packaging process, has stripped them of their honesty, trust, core values and language ability to tell the truth. Politicians are groomed to be electable and not shoot from the hip and tell it as it is.

I am not arguing against Daly’s view but am contesting her understanding of twenty-first century politics and the technological influence of the Internet on society. Andrew Chadwick’s, (2006) Internet Politics provides a powerful counter argument to Daly’s views on ‘New Politics.’ I acknowledge that the key issue she was addressing were politicians confusing messages to the public.

However, Internet politics have revolutionised western democracies. Chadwick identifies the key characteristics as:

Decentralisation
Participation
Community
Globalisation
Post Industrialisation
Ratonalisation
Governance and
Libertarianism

Daly’s observation of politicians is very accurate but neglects the power of Internet politics by the world’s citizens. Social media and technology empowers people, communities and societies and their ability to actively determine key issues. Chadwick’s analysis illustrates how technological and social determinism effect democracies. Daly’s ‘New Politics’ is one small part of this. New forms of marketing through social media benefit not only traditional manipulators but also citizens’ abilities to decide political outcomes. The ‘New Politics’ is not one sided.

Eddy Jackson
0780 9233 688
www.communicationuk.com
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