Evaluate The View That Social Media Is Now More Important Than Traditional Forms of Media in Politics. (30

AGREE 1 (SOCIAL MEDIA V NEWSPAPERS)

Social media in central to how younger voters consume political information and shape their political views. Therefore, Parties and MPs focus on influencing the views of voters on social media.

1. A YouGov poll showed that 72% of 18-24 year olds used social media to access news during the 2024 general election -

2. According to WhoTargetsMe in the 2024 election over £9.8m was spent on Meta and Google adverts. LAB was the largest spender spending over £5.9m

More important as voters increasingly consume political information through social media which allows parties to reach more voters.

DISAGREE (SOCIAL MEDIA V NEWSPAPERS)

Newspapers are more important than social media as newspapers are a key source of political information particularly for older voters who are more likely to vote and less likely to use social media.

Newspapers can be seen to having a big impact on changing people's opinions and influencing how they vote.

1. Top 2 newspapers the Sun and the Daily Mail have backed the CON party in the last 3 elections.

2. On the day of the 1992 election the Sun wrote "if Kinnock wins today will the last person in Britain, please turn the lights out". The following day after Majors victory the Sun headlined "it's the sun wot won it"

Newspapers can shape narratives around party competence and leadership

AGREE 2 (TV AND RADIO V SOCIAL MEDIA)

Social media is more important as it can be argued that social media allows traditional forms of media to have a wider impact on politics in the UK. Clips from TV often go viral on social media allowing them to have a much wider reach.

1. Clips of Liz Truss' local radio interviews were viewed by millions on social media.

2. TV and radio must be politically neutral and are regulated by OFCOM. Whereas social media is not

In 2022, OFCOM revoked the license of Russia Today (RT), a Kremlin-backed channel, after finding it was unable to comply with impartiality rules.

Voters can put forward their political opinions and try sway others therefore having more impact.

DISAGREE 2 (TV AND RADIO V SOCIAL MEDIA)

The TV helps voters to form an impression of party leaders

1. The negative coverage of Corbyn focused on his personalist and scruffy appearance rather than his policies

2. 2017 May refusing to take part in a head-on-head TV debate with Corbyn made her look weak in the eyes of voters and contributed to her unpopularity.

3. Newsnight often exposes government or opposition failures such has the antisemitism in the LAB party under Jeremy Corbyn

Leadership image is very important in swaying the views of voters so TV coverage can strongly influence voting behaviour

DISAGREE 3

Opinion polls can have an important influence on elections by influencing turnout and voting behaviour, particularly tactical voting.

Turnout is more likely to be higher if opinion polls indicate that the elections will be close

1. 2015 election: YouGov Polling: 33% LAB 33% CON. Turnout: 66% - slightly higher than previous elections.

2. Brexit Referendum: YouGov polling: 51% Remain, 49% leave. Turnout: 72%

3. 2015, the fact that opinion polls looked very close may have convinced many LD supporters to switch to voting for CON to avoid a LAB victory or vice versa.

Polls create a sense of a close race encouraging higher turnout and making voters feel like their vote matters more.