New Media on Politics

The new media has drastically changed the political environment in a country. Previously, people who held power to express their views are those with status. Now, the media specifically the internet has provided common man a platform to express their views and opinions on politics in various mediums such as Blogger, Wordpress, Youtube vidoes and even social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

General Election 2011 and Presidential election saw the government easing on internet advertisements allowing candidates to reach out to the masses through social media to campaign for their cause. Foreign Minister George Yeo lauded as among the earliest politicians here to use social media and even Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long

News on "Singapore eases rule on Internet election"

Foreign Minister George Yeo  using social media to interact with locals

On Wednesday night, May 4, 2011, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong engaged in a one-hour web chat on Facebook which saw him receiving over 6,000 questions and comments.

To add on, the social media has become a revolutionary tool to topple authoritarian regimes evident in the recent Arab Spring.  

Video on how social media has fueled the Egyption Revolution

Due to globalisation, it has brought about greater interconnectivity allowing for greater awareness and thus more joining in to support the Egyption Revolution

Links:

Social Media humanises politicians ; http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110407-272175.html

"Was Sinagapore Genral Election 2011 an "Internet Election?" ;

http://blog.dk.sg/2011/10/10/was-singapore-general-election-2011-an-internet-election/

"PM Lee responds to Facebook feedback"; 

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110506-277361.html