Texting Comes To The Aid Of The Presidential Candidates
No doubt spurred on by the industry figures which show that 158 billion text messages were sent in 2006 between Americans, who own some 243 million mobile phones, the 2008 US presidential candidates are looking at text messaging to get them in touch with the younger generation of voters.
Considering that about 43 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in the US text daily, according to Insight Express, this might just be the best way to reach out them. In fact, a study by Aaron Strauss, a Princeton University graduate student, showed that persons who received a text message reminder ahead of an election were about four percent more likely to vote than those who did not.
Some reported cases where texting has been instrumental in politics:
- Some say text messages helped fuel rallies that led to the ouster of Philippine president Joseph Estrada in 2001;
- It may have tipped the balance in the 2004 elections in Spain as a “viral” messaging campaign got out the vote.
- Some say text messaging helped organizers in the 1999 anti-globalization protests in Seattle, Washington.
- Reportedly, smart mobs created by SMS were instrumental in the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and around the 2002 South Korean elections.
Related posts:
- UK – SMS Texting levels reach record high
- US Presidential Portrait Goes Digital
- Text Your Way To A Pizza Meal
- Rs 6.6 cr Lost By Banks Due To Internet Frauds
- Moving towards free mobile calls
Filed under: Ideas & Innovations, Mobile, Trends
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