Politics | Future of Facebook. The Future of Facebook - Politics. Debt limit debate key players: Social media. Aug 2, 2011 10:02 AM by CBS News It was, CNET TV Executive Editor Molly Wood reported on "The Early Show" Tuesday, just the latest example of the growing importance of Twitter, Facebook and other outlets in the goings-on in Washington. Moments before Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords appeared on the House floor to participate in the debate, Twitter users already knew she was there - she tweeted, "the #capitol looks beautiful and i am honored to be at work tonight.
" It was Giffords' first time back at work since she was shot in January, and word of her arrival quickly spread across the Internet, showing once again that social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook continue to be increasingly important for congressional members - and their constituents -- to get their messages across. KTVQ on Twitter Q2 News on Facebook "Imagine polling from years ago being instantaneous," says Personal Democracy Forum founder Andrew Rasiej.
"It's a sea change from, say, two years ago. ... Alexander Howard: In Social Media and Politics, Engagement and Influence Trumps Follower Count. The White House may not quite be up to real-time disclosure, but as the Obama administration continues to step up its online engagement efforts in the real-time political debate online, we can take away some important lessons from the results. The hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington has replicated itself online with both predictable outcomes, like hot rhetoric on blogs and social networks, and novel scenarios, like critiques of New York Times social media reporter Jennifer Preston for asking the White House what hashtag it was using.
When Twitter exploded over the debt deal this summer, we saw something new. Both sides of the aisle pushed online to scrap the deal. Regardless of the outcome of the vote on the deal in Congress, the volume of political communication over social networks last week offered a blistering window into what the nation can expect when the 2012 election season heats up next year. This whole silly brouhaha raises the question of "What is Twitter for? "