Appreciate the Limits of Social Media

August 1, 2013

Despite the pervasiveness of social media, it is important to understand that it is still not treated as a legitimate measure of public input, a format given equal weight with traditional forms of outreach.

Although social media provides direct access to public opinion, in too many jurisdictions it is not treated with the same validity as public meetings. Polling informs election strategy everywhere, but is seldom used as a primary means of informing policy formation and development.  Maybe the Internet is still too new.  It exists out of political control.  Or maybe the technology is still just too easily manipulated – after all, the value of public opinion polls depends entirely on who controls “the ask” and how the question is presented.  

Politicians still fear the angry few, even when the data shows that the loud voice of hysteria represents a tiny minority.