When Hashtags Drive the Vote: Social Media’s Political Power
If there’s one thing I’m so uninterested in, then it should politics. I wouldn’t even waste a minute of my time on pol because I don’t really see how it will benefit me. The situation when it comes to polities in my country is very messy. Politics is a messy game and anyone involved deeply in it knows the possible risks and consequences. I love my peace of mind and so anything that would lead to any sort of rowdy situations or arguments, I try to stay far away from that.
Ghanaians love politics and that’s a good thing if you ask me. This is because we as a country need leaders to lead us so as to develop our country and serve the people. But then, there’s social media which is both our friend and enemy. Everyone out there is on social media today doing a whole lot. We all know there so much going on in the social media space we can’t even keep up with. Each day, there’s something new to talk about. However, not everything on social media is healthy for our consumption as individuals.
Speaking of social media and politics, there’s actually a lot to talk about. I need not tell you how our politicians are. Most politicians will openly play the dirty game and they always end up using those following them. During an election in Ghana some years ago, so many people lost their lives because they were sent to carry or steal ballot boxes so their political aspirants will win the elections. At the end of the day, these people lost their lives for nothing.
Now, we have slowly transitioned to using social media for all our political agendas or should I call it campaigning and more. Is it name calling, propaganda, petty attacks here and there and many more. Some people even go to the extent of coming online to fight or attack others just because they said something about their party. Here in Ghana, it has grown to be a normal thing but to me, it’s a nasty game.
Ghanaians play too much and at this point everyone knows that. However, some of these issues are very delicate. I get that most times what people say and do on social media is just for fun but when it comes to politics, you never know who will take offence in your words or accusations. You’d hardly see a politician come online to fight or attack an opponent but you see their followers, it’s like that’s their full time job. In as much as it’s fun to read such banters and all, it’s not healthy.
I’ve seen politicians use the social media space very wisely in their campaigns and that got them the votes they’ve been looking for. That’s exactly what I think very one needs to lean towards in this era. Let’s learn to campaign positively, let people see the vision and the good you aim to bring to the nation in the long run. No more attacks and what have you. Let’s use the media space healthily for our campaigns and political endeavors. This way, everyone wins.
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STOPGhana is like Nigeria, very playful citizen and most of them know what’s going on
It’s sad that most politicians knows that their agenda can’t be done on tvs and radio alone so now most of them have social media manager.
Like you said, some use it wisely while others just create fake account to spread rumors
Well said
Social-media is a powerful tool that can help drive our politicians towards doing the right thing if ultilise properly, unlike we've seen where it's more of a battlefield to call each other out and the likes.
That’s true.
Nowadays, politicians use social networks to wash people's brain, especially in electoral campaign, promising things that they will not fulfill, and as the world of social networks is mostly a great illusion, a great lie, because it is the ideal space for them to do what seems to them. The saddest of this is the alarming large number of people around the world who believe almost everything they see through social networks. It is undeniable the power that the networks have, but I think that what is really needed is more people with critical thinking, which really does not let manipulate and understands that social media is just one more instrument that is being manipulated at the craving of the media or politicians.
That’s very true.
I.love that these politicians use social media effectively for their campaigns. If only they use social media positively for everything... things will be more easier for everyone but no...they will always mix evil with the opportunity presented to us
That’s very true. We need to use social media positivity.