New Report Shows Capitol Hill Uses Social Media Extensively
August 2, 2011
In recent years, there has been a growing fascination surrounding social media and its implications for the ever-evolving political world. The Congressional Management Foundation is no stranger to this discussion and has recently released several key findings that will further enhance public knowledge and specifically detail how our leaders in Congress are adapting to this phenomenon. Traditionally, the legislative branch has been slow to adopt new technological fads as a means for better accomplishing the work of the nation. As politicians on the hill eventually realized, it appears that websites and the Internet are here to stay. However, the most surprising finding unearthed by the Congressional Management Foundation was the rapid willingness by many leaders in Congress to elevate the importance of social media within the scope of politics. This article will examine the influence of sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube on legislators in order to enhance discussion and say something new about civic engagement.
Since its inception, social media has been redefining human connection in new ways daily. From a political perspective, this is particularly intriguing because this technology has moved two of the most vital aspects of political communication to a whole new playing field. The first major finding highlighted by the Congressional Management Foundation is the heightened use of social media as a way of gauging public opinion. In 1913, a fundamental component of our government was altered by the passage of the 17th Amendment which allowed voters the right to directly elect their senators. In our democracy, the avenues by which citizens have made their opinions known have always been evolving. Think about how social media allows individuals to voice their opinions to Congress. What connections can we draw between this phenomenon and the passage of the 17th Amendment and what does this mean for civic engagement today?
During his presidency, Franklin Delano Roosevelt communicated with the American public through a series of evening radio addresses known as the Fireside Chats. At a time of great struggle and fear, Roosevelt lifted a nation on his back and carried us through some of the darkest of times. The second major finding illustrated by the Congressional Management Foundation is the increased use of sites such as Facebook and Youtube to communicate the views of leaders in Congress to their constituents. Harking back to the time of FDR, President Obama now gives weekly Youtube addresses from the White House. Similarly, many leaders on the hill have recorded videos to communicate with the American public, share their views, or give comfort in times of hardship. Do you think sites such as Facebook or Youtube allow politicians to reach more people than before or did Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats do a better job of engaging the people?
Beyond the ways in which Congressional leaders are communicating with their constituents and more importantly how their constituents are communicating back to them, the Congressional Management Foundation spent a significant amount of energy examining the interplay between junior staffers and their bosses to comment on how different generations view social media. While they found overwhelmingly that about 72% of congressional staffers believe they are reaching people through social media they ordinarily would not, the numbers change when more components are factored in. Significantly more staffers who are younger believe social media is worth the time than their more senior bosses. While this information may not seem all that shocking, a certain degree of discussion may help bridge the technology gap amongst generations. What is it about social media that is attractive to younger Americans and why do many older Americans view it with cynicism?
Throughout the course of our history, time has continued to yield new tools to aid the progress of open communication between politicians and the people they represent. Decades ago it was the comforting voice of a president traveling through the radio waves and today you can get the same information just about anywhere. As new developments related to social media and other forms of technology continue to arise, Americans will inevitably ask: are we really more connected or are we drifting farther apart? Are politicians reaching new audiences or are their voices drowning in the ever-deepening black hole of cyberspace? Wherever you stand on this issue, it cannot be denied that civic engagement is and will continued to be defined by our ability to communicate through a free exchange of thoughts and ideas.