Ways in Which the Internet has changed Political Interactions Globally

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Obviously, many young people today will never quite comprehend the life changing experience the Internet has brought about to the society, unlike their parents, because they actually do not know any other kind of life without the Internet. However, it is notable of the impacts the internet has had on the society today, an impact so much more than any other tool of communication in the history of mass media. This essay, therefore, will show how this form of communication has affected political interactions throughout the world.

The Internet has significantly changed and reshaped the way individuals interact with each other, with more people connecting with each other through services offered by high- speed Internet. Today, users of the Internet can make use of instant messages to communicate with each other, a customer base, rent and sale homes, and so forth in online worlds. In addition to these uses, the Internet has also acquired a new role in politics, just like the television, the Internet has an increasingly influential effect on the political system, as well as, politic of a country. For instance, when Americans and other individuals from more developed nations like Europe want to access some information about an upcoming political event, like an election, they usually make use of the Internet to help them make decisions about voting. Several studies provide sufficient evidence to support the argument that twice as many US citizens made use of the Internet as their key source of information and news about the 2006 elections in comparison to the most recent political event in 2002 (Horrigan & Raine, 2007).

The invention of the Internet, therefore, has had an exceedingly essential impact on how politics and political campaigns are designed and structured. All the parties involved in a political struggled currently exploit all of the opportunities the Internet provides for them to interact with the voters. They take advantage of email, blogs, communicate with potential sponsors through email, and communicate with voters through Facebook, Twitter and other social services provided by the Internet and raise money using text messages. The candidates are opting for the Internet as a convenient way of communication because it is a cheaper and faster way for political candidates and parties to view what the voters find significant.

Equipped with the information derived the Internet, the political candidates can then plan a political platform and communicate the same to the voters. The Internet with all these impacts is prompting significant changes in the way politics are carried out by supporting the rewriting of rules governing advertising, mobilizing of supporters, fundraising and spreading of both positive and negative information. The political candidates, therefore, are increasing their utilization of interactive Web sites, email, party and candidate blogs and text messages to organize efforts for gathering votes, raise money and assemble people for rallies.

The Internet seems to be far more effective and efficient, and even cheaper, when compared to the other traditional tools of conducting politics. Political candidates and parties are using social sites like MySpace and Friendster to reach voters. On such sites, political allies and parties find common issues and linkage. As politicians need to get their stand and to the voters and to get potentials voters their polls, they are doing all they can, including studying possible online tools to increase their following, to emerge winners.

The Internet has significantly changed the way people conduct politics throughout the world, with the invention of social, interactive tools like Web sites and other forms of social sites like Twitter, Facebook and blogs.

Reference

Raine, L. & Horrigan, J. (2007). Election 2006 online. Washington, DC: PEW Internet and American life project.