Social media has changed politics. It is now much easier for leaders to talk directly to their followers. In the US, Barack Obama was one of the first presidents to use social media to bolster support. Donald Trump tweets almost daily to his more than 88m followers.
Twitter and other social media do not only benefit political incumbents. A recent study forthcoming in Management Science calculates the additional campaign contributions that politicians, who run for the US Congress, received after they began using Twitter. The authors estimate that “the differential effect of opening a Twitter account in regions with high versus low levels of Twitter penetration, amounts to an increase of 0.7% to 2% in donations for all politicians and 1% to 3.1% for new politicians, who were never elected to the Congress before”. When experienced politicians join Twitter, the effects are “negligibly small”. This, the authors argue, shows that social media can reduce the barriers to entry in politics.
But this direct line of communication can also have a dark side. History can help us to understand why. The radio, for example, brought major changes to how information and beliefs disseminated in society. A remarkable study by a University of Pittsburgh PhD student, Tianyi Wang, demonstrates the power that this new form of communication yielded. Wang investigates the first populist radio personality in American history, a man by the name of Father Charles Coughlin. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Father Coughlin blended populist demagoguery, anti-Semitism and fascist sympathies to create a hugely popular radio programme that attracted tens of millions of listeners. Wang wants to know what the effect of Father Coughlin’s populism was on American voters.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 17 December 2020 من Finweek English.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 17 December 2020 من Finweek English.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
THE HEALTH OF SA'S MEDICAL SCHEMES
As the Covid-19 pandemic abates, finweek takes a look at the financial performance of some of the largest players.
The effect of Gilbertson's departure
With Ntsimbintle Holdings now the major shareholder of Jupiter Mines, it could change SA’s manganese industry.
Making money from music
Why investors are increasingly drawn to the music industry.
Conviction is key
Sandy Rheeder plays a critical role in Mukuru’s mission to open up financial services to the emerging consumer market in Africa through tailor-made technology solutions and platforms.
The post-pandemic toolkit
How CFOs can use technology to support growth.
Big city living exodus
Mini cities like Waterfall City and Steyn City are redefining city-style apartment living.
Big compact, big value
Handsome, with a hefty level of standard specification, the roomy Haval Jolion compact crossover is a great value proposition.
On barriers to entry
There are various ways in which a company or sector can achieve competitive dominance. They usually make for good investments.
Fear and greed in one index
To buck the trend, when markets are hot or cold, is a tough thing to do. However, it can deliver solid returns.
Africa's largest data centre facility coming soon
Vantage Data Centers plans to invest over R15bn for its first African data centre facility in Attacq’s Waterfall City.
