Reading this blog on a smart phone? No surprise there!
According tot a study released by the Pew Research Center, cell phones and social media are playing a key roll in how voters get political news and information.
The number of Americans who use their cell phones to access political news or follow campaigns is double what it was in 2010 when Alex Sink lost her bid for governor after doing just what voters are – checking her cell phone. According to the poll, 28 percent of registered voters have used a cell phone to track the news during the 2014 election cycle verses just 13 percent in the last midterm. Social media follows of candidates running for office are also up sharply – 16 percent compared to just 6 percent in 2010.
Those numbers are the most profound among 30-49 year olds. In 2010 only 15 percent used a cell phone to read political coverage and just 6 percent followed candidates on social media. Those numbers are up this cycle to 40 percent and 21 percent respectively.
The study also shows a correlation between social media and digital device usage during election cycles. A good chunk, 16 percent, of voters who follow candidates on Facebook or Twitter also take active rolls in other types of engagement from volunteering with campaigns to donating money.
The study was conducted between October 15 and 20 among 2,003 adults including 1,494 registered voters.
Now put your phone down, get off of Facebook and vote.
