1. B y Mr. Vijaykumar Meti P h . D Re s e a rc h S c h o l a r D e p t .

J M C G u l b a rg a Un ive
r s i t y Political Communication In Digital Age Social Media Analysis Social Networking Media
Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
2. Introduction The Internet is a sphere that involves virtually all levels of the political
communications. Social media has caused major changes in the political communication and
has become useful resource often used by the politicians in order to strengthen their visibility.
All the new media resources viz., the websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, etc., of
the politicians or the political parties allow the affirmation of a discursive identity of politicians
contributing to the customizing of the political discourse. Social Networking Media Boon or
Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
3. Social Media In the past few years, social media have made a rapid growth in terms of user
counts globally. Facebook has more than 1.2 billion active users. Twitter counts more than
200 million users . Google Plus has more than 540 million users. (Facebook Statistics &
Wikipedia) Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
4. Social Media & Politics Social media has emerged as an essential tool of communication for
political parties. Social Media has created new ways of political mobilizing and encourage
social media users in political activities ranging from joining their political groups by:
Tweeting Short Messages in Twitter. Facebook Status Update. Expressing Supports Through
Blogs. Videos on YouTube. Group Hangouts on Google+. Social Networking Media Boon
or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
5. Functions of the Social Media in the Political Communication Politicians promote their
controlled speech and present their point of view without being interrupted by journalists or by
media format limitation. Social media has given privilege for politicians to post a presumptive
political agenda. By means of social media, political parties or politicians can mobilize public
and invites them to participate in discussion on some issues of public interest. By using the
social media tools, politicians and political parties interacts apparently with more efficiently with
their supporters, beyond institutional and bureaucratic rigors. Social Networking Media Boon or
Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
6. Social Media in Indian Politics Social media is playing a considerable new role in Indian
democracy. Presently, political parties are increasingly embracing social media to encourage
people. With the changing scenario of India Politics, political parties and politicians have
found a new ways of reaching out to a younger and aspiration population. It is really a long
leap from the times when politicians were relied mainly on posters, cardboard, cutouts, graffiti,
banners and personal canvassing to win over voters. Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?,
SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
7. Social Media & Indian Political Parties Among major political parties in India, BJP has the
biggest charisma in social media. BJP started using the social media even before 2009 general
election, which it lost. Several senior leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley,
Narendra Modi and many are on social networking sites. Social media has also credited with
helping the new Aam Aadmi Party and its candidate, Arvind Kejriwal, won a surprise victory in
Delhi against major political parties Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire
March 7 & 8, 2014
8. Active Indian Politicians on Social Media Narendra Modi He is one of the most famous
politicians on social media with approximately 1.3 million followers on Facebook page and 3.42
million followers on Twitter. He joined Facebook and Twitter in 2009 and became the first
politician to use Google Plus. He also has a YouTube channel which has reached the 15,000
mark of subscribers and has more than 1500 videos. Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?,
SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
9. Narendra Modi: Social Media Profiles Modis Official Twitter Account Modis Official
Google+ Account Modis Official YouTube Account Modis Official Facebook Account
10. Active Indian Politicians on Social Media Rahul Gandhi He is very interactive on his
Facebook page and has approximately 2 lakh fans. He is also very active blog writer and writes
blogs for people to know his views on issues. Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM,
Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
11. Rahul Gandhi: Social Media Profile Rahuls Official Facebook Account Rahuls Official
Twitter Account Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
12. Active Indian Politicians on Social Media Shashi Tharoor At times, he was also referred
to as the "Twitter minister'. He do not have an official page on Facebook but to cover that up,
he has almost 15 lakh followers on Twitter and a Facebook fan page. Social Networking Media
Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
13. Shashi Tharoor : Social Media Profile Tharoors Official Google+ Account Tharoors
Official Twitter Account Tharoors Official Facebook Page
14. Active Indian Politicians on Social Media Sushma Swaraj She has made her presence
felt on social networking sites very prominently. She doesnt have an official Facebook page
but her following is such that her community page on Facebook has approximately 95,000 likes.
She also has more than 3 lakh followers on Twitter. Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?,
SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
15. Sushma Swaraj: Social Media Profile Sushmas Official Facebook Page Sushmas Official
Twitter Account Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
16. Active Indian Politicians on Social Media Manmohan Singh He han official page on
Facebook with more than 3.5 lakh fans. He tweets frequently and has a dedicated website on
which one can find his speeches, press releases, photos and videos. His Facebook page is
updated with latest activities in the government, PM's conferences and functions. Social
Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014
17. Manmohan Singh: Social Media Profile Manmohans Official Facebook Page Manmohans
Official Twitter Account Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8,
2014
18. Conclusion In the last few years, social media have become an important political
communication channel in India and globally. Social Media enables political parties and voters
to directly interact with each other. Social Media allows political activities to gain more
transparency and citizens might be more involved into political decision-making processes.
The political parties, which have exploited the benefits of promoting their image and political
messages by means of the social networks, have enjoyed active participation of their supporters.
19. Social Networking Media Boon or Bane?, SDM, Ujire March 7 & 8, 2014