Election Watch 2006
The Political Age of the Internet
How much effect does the Internet have on politics and elections? Questions like this seem to be asked more frequently as the Internet becomes more widely used and available. The inner- workings of the political system have always been rather unclear for the average citizen, with many people unsure of certain issues and at odds with some political viewpoints. Information, availability, and convenience are three key factors why America has been turning to the Internet for political answers.
The Internet makes election news more readily available. An article by the Pew Research
Center states that different forms of media are using the Internet to release current information
in a timely manner. The magnitude of information received by the major news and information
providers cannot compare to that of smaller, specifically political sites. Information-hungry
Americans want to learn all about the candidates and the issues under consideration in an election
year. During the 2000 election campaign, eighteen percent of Americans are reported to have turned
to the Internet for election news as opposed to four percent who went online in 1996. From the 2000
election to the 2004 election, the use of Internet grew by another four percent. Web sites like
that of CNN and MSNBC, etc. will continue to provide up-to-the-minute news and information on just
about any issue or candidate faster than any print newspaper or news magazine could ever hope to
do.
The information shared on the Internet is another interesting issue to consider. Most Americans feel that the Internet can be used as a valuable tool to learn more about politics. Young Americans are just beginning to learn about their role in the political process. They are also some of the most Internet-savvy users, being able to navigate through and find sites very easily. In a statistic stated by the Pew Research Center, half of the online election information seekers said the information presented online influenced their opinion about a particular candidate. This fact alone is an indication of the power of Internet information sites. Research also indicated that the people who turn to the Internet for their political information are usually the most well-informed. Unfortunately, many sites present a bias that can be very covert in nature. Internet users must be aware of this and temper their decision-making until they have read all sides of the issues in question.
Another question to be considered is why has there been a surge in Internet usage
surrounding politics and political issues? As a news source, convenience is the Internet’s main
appeal to consumers. According to the Pew researchers, fifty six percent of people logged onto the
Internet in 2000 for election news for convenience. Today this has vastly increased. Almost
everyone has access to the internet both at home and at work. A few years ago people used the
Internet as a way to gain information the media was not providing. This has now changed. The media
caught on to the public’s appetite for information and has continued to close the gap on the
variety of information they now provide.
The Internet indeed has a large impact on the political views of Americans. It seems that whatever the reason, whether it be for content or convenience, the Internet is the wave of the future for political communication and information. But because of the vastness of it, Internet users must consider the Latin concept of Caveat lector: Let the reader beware and at all times be discernable information seekers.
