TULSA, OK – JUNE 20: Demonstrators march during a counter-protest before President Donald Trump’s … [+] campaign rally on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is scheduled to hold his first political rally since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at the BOK Center while infection rates in the state of Oklahoma continue to rise. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
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TikTok users’ call to arms to artificially inflate registrations for Trump’s Tulsa rally is indicative of the evolving role social media is playing in the forthcoming US elections. Social media has a checkered past and present with politics, but until now controversy tended to be between politicians and platforms. This election, it is the billions of social media users who are moving the needle.
The Spotlight Is Changing
Fake news and the Cambridge Analytics scandal marred America’s last Presidential election. The extent to which it swayed voters is challenging to decipher, but ultimately unscrupulous partners found a way to take advantage of gaps in the system. It rightly forced the platforms to change. Political advertising was banned from Twitter outright. Facebook didn’t go as far, but implemented more robust approval systems on political ads, alongside building an army of 15,000 content moderators fact checking posts.
But politics is a relevant cultural conversation and the nature of social media platforms is to provide an outlet for this. Twitter’s short text dialogue suits Trump’s whimsical ideas and journalists’ quick-witted opinions. The average Facebook user in the US is now 40 years old and they want to share the issues which are important to them. The relevancy of these platforms is still evident, but prior to 2020, politics rarely surfaced in the world of Instagram or TikTok. These platforms are predominantly filled with users under the age of 30 posting content that is aspirational and fun. Content which rarely suits a political agenda.
Social Media For Social Awareness
In March this year, virus-related content quickly found its place and tone on Instagram and TikTok. Face-mask selfies became popularized, and feeds filled up with filtered views of empty cities and isolation inspired activities and challenges. Younger users of these platforms have far less health risks attached to the virus so naturally content was playful, and in most parts helpful to stay-at-home messaging.
Playful turned impactful after the devastating death of George Floyd. Instagram became a unified home for the Black Lives Matter movement and in support of the cause, 25 million users posted plain black screens instead of their usual content with the hashtag #blackouttuesday. For context, usage of the #trump2020 hashtag since his campaign launch (2 million posts) is less than 10% of the #blacklivesmatter conversation (22 million posts), whilst the predominant #trumprallyfail hashtag from the ill-fated rally attracted 270 thousand tweets on the day. The power of social media in galvanizing the masses to a single relevant topic of conversation is impossible to ignore. Whilst under-handed, the one million fake registrations for the Tulsa event further demonstrates this influence.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 20: Supporters wait for the start of a campaign rally for U.S. President … [+] Donald Trump at the BOK Center, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is holding his first political rally since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at the BOK Center on Saturday while infection rates in the state of Oklahoma continue to rise. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Will It Make A Difference?
The spread of social and political awareness reflected by Instagram and TikTok users is not the only force for change.
The impact of the virus on youth is staggering. Beneath the surface of America’s current 13.3% unemployment rate, is unemployment of 29.8% for 18-19 year-olds, and 23.2% for 20-24-year-olds. While government stimulus has done a great job in masking the true impact of job losses on younger demographics, second waves of the virus and a recession will drive this message home. Voter turnout for those under 30 is consistently the lowest represented age group, with 46.1% of them having their say in 2016. Compare this to 70.9% of those over the 65 voting. The capacity for younger voters to impact an outcome by simply turning up to vote is evident.
In 2008 and 2012 with Obama’s candidacy, there was a significantly higher turnout percentage amongst young black voters compared to young white voters. Two white candidates in 2016 saw this statistic retreat. This year, the absence of a black candidate may have repeated this trend, but for the recency and relevancy of the Black Lives Matter movement. For young black voters, it is a compelling time to have their say.
Reported Voting and Registration by Race, Hispanic Origin, Sex, and Age Groups: November 1964 to … [+] 2018.
US Census Data
Within the sweeping and devastating changes the virus has enforced on the world, the rising interest in politics amongst young voters must be considered a positive. Despite the debate around the personal involvement of social media chiefs, Instagram and TikTok users are playing a part. If this leads to voter turnout, then democracy is the prevailing winner.
FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Born: March 1, 1954.
Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.
Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.
Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.
Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.
Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.
Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
GATINEAU, Que. – Treasury Board President Anita Anand will take on the additional role of transport minister this afternoon, after Pablo Rodriguez resigned from cabinet to run for the Quebec Liberal leadership.
A government source who was not authorized to speak publicly says Anand will be sworn in at a small ceremony at Rideau Hall.
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos will become the government’s new Quebec lieutenant, but he is not expected to be at the ceremony because that is not an official role in cabinet.
Rodriguez announced this morning that he’s leaving cabinet and the federal Liberal caucus and will sit as an Independent member of Parliament until January.
That’s when the Quebec Liberal leadership race is set to officially begin.
Rodriguez says sitting as an Independent will allow him to focus on his own vision, but he plans to vote with the Liberals on a non-confidence motion next week.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
