Social Media reigns in 2016 presidental race

Social Media reigns in 2016 presidental race

As I sat on the bed, Tuesday night juggling my class assignments and listening with bated breath for the electoral announcement of the next President of the United States, I found myself asking my husband who was glued to social media by phone, what was happening on the social sites.   With each announcement of the victor per state for a particular candidate and the commentary as to what the numbers meant for the candidates. I realized that social media was a necessary evil to connect and tap into the views and emotions of strangers. I was eager to know what the populous was saying and feeling. Are people just as nervous as I was? Are they still joking around or has it become a hard reality that we must now face together. With each passing minute, the clock ticking in the background and the ballot results announced, Trump – Hillary – Trump – Trump – undecided (too early to call but in favor of..). I felt my heart drop and my pulse slow as if time was stopping. I grabbed my phone and opened my Facebook page and began to surf to see what kind of chaos was about to unfold by either candidate being elected. But, the stream was surprisingly void of comments. It was as if everyone in the world was glued to their television awaiting the results. Twitter was very active with comments and commentary but many were begging the question of others… Did You Vote! As I listened to the commentary, the closer it came to announcing victory for Donald Trump, my pours raised and my body became numb.   My husband and I stared aimlessly at the screen not understanding what was happening even though it was unraveling right before our eyes. The commentators tried to make sense of why the polls were so wrong in reporting that Hillary was the favored candidate in most states. But the only voice I clearly remember was that of commentator Van Jones in the wee hours of the morning stating, we as a nation clearly did not take into account the power of social media in this era. He explained that Donald Trump was a realty star who played to his biggest fans and non-fans by keeping up with social sites and being larger than life on air. Jones can be quoted as stating, “Trump’s legendary role models surprisingly haven’t been Republicans, but Democrats. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama all used the new media of their time to surprise, titillate and capture voters’ attentions.” This made me pause and reflect on my current class on Social Media in today’s world and it made perfect sense. We are a digital people, gone is the era of books, dvd’s and playground bullying. He continued his rhetoric, “FDR changed the rules of the game because he mastered radio. He was able to take radio and just completely master that. Then you had JFK and JFK was able to master television — new medium, new master, new president. Obama’s champion use of mediums like online fundraising and social media not only transformed how candidates fundraise, but how they reach out to us before we head to the polls. It’s a new media era, the era of social media, especially Twitter and reality television,” In that moment I knew that social interaction and social media was indeed the secret, yet not so secret, driving force behind Presidential elect Trump in getting his message across. Where did the Democrats lose their winning formula used with former President Barack Obama? Even with the multitude of A lister actors and singers campaigning for Hillary, there was no social push to break through to millennials on the digital platform. As they say in show business, as long as you are on the lips of everyone or in the media – All publicity is good publicity. I began to scour my social sites in search of Hillary’s/Democratic content, but other than a few public service messages and SNL videos, there was no major social force from the Democratic Party. I don’t understand… Former president still hurts to say… former president Barack Obama won his platform from a social standpoint. He connected with millennials like no other political candidate with his message of change, ‘Yes We Can.’ This blog is surely not meant to voice my political view but I am concerned as an African American mother of two boys for a number of should I say obvious reasons.   With the strife of Black Lives Matter looming in minds of most African Americans, I need to know that my children will be safe because not all African American fit the same profile or that shooting to kill is the goal rather than shooting to wound when and if necessary. This was not the platform that the soon to be inaugural President campaigned on. I’m equally concerned about the principles of the now president, as each day I preach about being kind, anti-bullying and giving respect so that they, my children can prosper, but that message now seems lost! - To quote Mr. Jones, CNN commentator, “Trump’s win counteracts everything many Americans try and instill in their children.” Jones, was visibly shaken and outspoken about the results on Tuesday night, and I have to concur with his views. He didn’t hold back, he didn’t adjust his language or put aside his reservations or fear as he spoke on CNN Tuesday night. He spoke openly about the reality of a President Donald Trump and what he believed his presidency would mean for the democratic population and minorities. He, Jones, believes that racial tensions played a vital part in the 2016 voting and is a direct reflection of the Trump’s win calling it a “white-lash”. We are seeing history take place and it is a direct cause of the unrest of the people today who are protesting. Jones was unaware that his comments on Tuesday night would resonate deeply with a hurting population - "This was a white-lash against a changing country,” he said. "It was a white-lash against a black president in part, and that's the part where the pain comes. Social media finally exploded on Wednesday night with many urging their comrades to stand up against the presidential victor Donald Trump, while others were calling for unification of the union. Will there be a unified America?   Can there be a unified America?   Many people across the globe shared their concerns on social sites for their loved ones and what this new America means. The 2016 election has truly created a marker in history as I’m sure many will remember this day and time. I am eager to see what a “Great America” looks like… I’m hopeful that presidential elect Donald Trump will be the president of all the people as America is such a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and race.   America was always ‘great’ but maybe he can make it greater. Only time will tell and I’m sure social media will be buzzing good or bad about the new America. Hello 2017.. it’s going to be an interesting year. Reference: J.Lee (2016, November 09). Van Jones to Dems: Trump Could Really Win the Presidency. Retrieved November 09, 2016, from http://www.triplepundit.com/2016/05/van-jones-dems-trump-really-win-presidency/   Girdusky, R. (2016, November 02). Van Jones' unexpected warning to Dems about Trump and the black... Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://redalertpolitics.com/2016/05/02/van-jones-unexpected-warning-dems-trump-black-vote-video/   Emotional Van Jones: How do I explain this to my children? - CNN Video. (n.d.). Retrieved November 09, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/11/09/van-jones-emotional-election-results-sot.cnn