Social Media Campaign: Federal Election Being Fought On Facebook
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
Many voters were likely stumped when NDP leader Jack Layton referenced “hash tag fail” during Tuesday’s english-language debate. He was speaking to five-million Canadian Twitter users who were tweeting non-stop during the debate, and who can no longer be ignored. “A writer from the Globe & Mail pegged this the first social media campaign for Canada, and I think that’s right on target” says UVic social media guru and Political Science instructor Janni Aragon.
And the easiest target for the keyboard crowd, just like the opposition, appears to be Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The website shitharperdid.ca, featuring sensational alleged wrongdoing by Harper spelled out under catchy headlines crashed after Twitter and Facebook got ahold of it, and it reportedly received more than one million hits. Or how about ‘It’s over Steve’ – the Youtube video where Canadian women ‘break up’ with Harper.
Victoria NDP incumbent Denise Savoie tweeted throughout the leaders debate, and says young people appear to be responding. “If it creates more awareness about what’s happening, it’s all worth it.”
Camosun College students agree politics seem less intimidating — and less square — online. “It’s not the hip thing to do but I think Facebook and social media are helping with that” says one woman on campus.
Duration : 0:2:56
The Social Network – Trailer – Writer/producer Aaron Sorkin announced on his Facebook page that he is going to be writing a movie about the popular social networking site. Mark Zuckenberg created the site in 2004 at Harvard during his sophomore year. It now has over 60 million members and is valued at $16 billion.
A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. 
