Political Comments on Social Media Sites Getting Heated
By: Rebecca Jeffrey
Updated: October 15, 2012
Social media brings out the best in us.
"It's sort of like an electronic town hall or a forum, giving people a chance to express their views. Which in many respects is a good thing,"Hyte Purvis, a journalism professor said.
It also brings out the worst.
"Some people are not particularly interested in facts and they may feel very strongly about something and they don't like when somebody disagrees with them."
With elections less than a month away, political opinions are taking over news feeds.
"Especially since the debates have started up, even pictures are charged either way, making fun of one candidate or the other," Melissa Haar, a U of A student said.
"What social media are doing is offering another outlet for people to express their views and to exchange views, and in some cases to sort of get in to an electronic shouting match as you might say," Purvis said.
It's the daring comments that some have admitted they wouldn't say in person, that are turning people off.
"Certainly people are more bold when they're anonymous. Some people think that social media get sort of hi-jacked by people who have an agenda."
"It's easier to put yourself out there if you're not going to get face to face, people saying you're wrong. It's easier to argue with people if you're not face to face," Garth Moritz, a U of A student said.
Good news elections are over in 25 days, but opinions and social media aren't going anywhere.
"Social media are here to stay," Purvis said.
"It's sort of like an electronic town hall or a forum, giving people a chance to express their views. Which in many respects is a good thing,"Hyte Purvis, a journalism professor said.
It also brings out the worst.
"Some people are not particularly interested in facts and they may feel very strongly about something and they don't like when somebody disagrees with them."
With elections less than a month away, political opinions are taking over news feeds.
"Especially since the debates have started up, even pictures are charged either way, making fun of one candidate or the other," Melissa Haar, a U of A student said.
"What social media are doing is offering another outlet for people to express their views and to exchange views, and in some cases to sort of get in to an electronic shouting match as you might say," Purvis said.
It's the daring comments that some have admitted they wouldn't say in person, that are turning people off.
"Certainly people are more bold when they're anonymous. Some people think that social media get sort of hi-jacked by people who have an agenda."
"It's easier to put yourself out there if you're not going to get face to face, people saying you're wrong. It's easier to argue with people if you're not face to face," Garth Moritz, a U of A student said.
Good news elections are over in 25 days, but opinions and social media aren't going anywhere.
"Social media are here to stay," Purvis said.
