NDM Story #52 A third of young people think social media will influence their vote

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/mar/10/a-third-of-young-people-think-social-media-will-influence-their-vote?CMP=dis_2831

A third of young people think social media will influence their vote, according to research by Ipsos Mori and King’s College London. However, looking at the electorate as a whole the report finds that voters have a mixed attitude towards the impact of social media on the political debate. More than a third (34%) of those aged 18-24 said that reading something on social media was likely to influence their vote - second only to the TV debates. Across Britain as a whole, social media is listed fourth as a potential influence on voting - after the TV debates, newspapers and election broadcasts, and just ahead of leaflets through the letter box. Ipsos Mori’s results also show that while 71% believe that social media provides a platform and voice to people who wouldn’t normally take part in political debates, there is concern that social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, are making political debate more divisive and superficial. The feeling is shared both by those active on social media and by those that aren’t. Among social media users, 57% and 50% agreed that social media has made the debate more divisive and superficial that it used to be.

Young people are prone to being influenced by social media, whether it is about voting or anything else. However, with this particular topic not all young people are educated when it comes to political parties and voting, therefore have a higher chance of being influenced by others opinions and votes.