Voters That Are Not Online

The internet is no guarantee for political victory, although Donald Trump thinks so. It’s a factor, yes but it cannot be the sole determinant of a political outcome.

1. It is fumbling in the dark, because the most vocal commentators are synonymous. They have no pictures on their portfolios and cannot be classified by race, residence, buying power, age or religion. They have bullet point power, which does not give any substantive reason why they think Party X is vile. They prefer stronger language.

2. Yes, rival political parties are transparent. They post their photos and political stripes, but a campaign anchored in name calling without giving reasons, repels voters. A ruling party must monitor opposition parties, but a strategy solely designed to babysitting them is wading in a swamp.

3. An election campaign anchored on social media is bound to fail because of exclusion. We have a digital dictatorship where renters, voters, vaccination process, everything in life is online. There’s no choice. You must register online, which excludes senior citizens, people with disabilities and people not fluent in English.  Assistants advising political parties do not care about such groups. That’s how there are major upsets in American and Canadian elections.

4.  Granted, campaign strategies are 100 years old, and do not take into consideration changing demographics and social fabric but still, social media is a one size fits all that does not fit certain arms, waists and feet.

 

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger