The Social Network Election – BBC College of Journalism

Matthew Eltringham, BBC Interactivity Assistant Editor:

"But isn't social networking supposed to be more that just a megaphone and be more about conversation and dialogue? There's plenty of broadcasting going on but just how much engagement is there, beyond the politically obsessed, with real people?

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Beyond the activities of the major parties, there's a mixed picture of just how much people are themselves engaging with the online election.

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Politicians don't always make it easy for themselves – building a successful online relationship takes time and effort. An election campaign is clearly the time when the parties want and need to engage with the electorate and the potential that social media offers them is huge. But social networks are only the means to allow that engagement; it's how the parties and the politicians use them that is the key."

Del.ici.us tags: socialmedia socialnetworking election2010 dialogue mattheweltringham