Kamala Harris is the Democrats' 2020 social media phenomenon

[brooklynite]

Axios

Sen. Kamala Harris of California is leading the field of Democratic presidential candidates in capturing the public's attention during the opening wave of the 2020 campaign.

Why it matters: That puts Harris in a strong position to help set the Democratic primary agenda, much as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is doing for the House Democratic agenda.

The numbers from the past three months (Nov. 12 to Feb. 12) say it all:

On Google, Harris was searched twice as often as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who were next closest, according to Google Trends

Instagram interactions, according to CrowdTangle:

Harris: 8.3 million
Sanders: 4.6 million
Warren: 2 million
Twitter interactions, according to CrowdTangle (combining Senate and personal accounts):

Harris: 14.4 million
Sanders: 8 million
Warren: 4.1 million

[customerserviceguy]

1. Maybe I'm too old to have seen it

at 63, but when did social media become the real world? No wonder so many kids who are bullied on it start to think about taking their own lives.

Social media seems to be the preferred interaction for the folks over 18 who seem to not be able to find a ballot box every two years. Old farts like me who don't have an Instagram or Twitter account are the ones who come out to vote. That's the only poll that matters.

[Sherman A1]

2. This is exactly what I see

It’s nice as a source, but the whole campaign and government by Twitter is getting old fast.

[brooklynite]

3. Tell me: how many people have you discussed the Presidential field with?

Last edited Thu Feb 14, 2019, 10:13 AM - Edit history (1)

Posting an opinion on social media is an opportunity to reach out to hundreds if not thousands.

nb - I'm 59 and I also come out to vote. I also have a Twitter presence.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Probably

about a few dozen, down at the pub, mostly. I'm retired, so I don't have co-workers any more to discuss with, besides, I moved away from the site of my last job.

I guess it's good to see people discuss their feelings about candidates in any way possible, but it still seems strange to me that social media is the barometer for the state of the race. Solid, scientifically sound polling isn't even that reliable of an indicator.

You're only four years younger than me, of course you come out to vote! Doing a poll on a website or app is not a substitute for actual political involvement, and I fear that too many "obliviots" (what I call people whose faces are always buried in their smartphones) feel that "liking", "friending" or other such trivialities just don't get why their voices are not being effectively heard.

Remember the lyrics from "Summertime Blues"? "I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote!" The equivalent of that is being old enough to vote and not bothering because it takes too much time and effort from a life fed on instant gratification.

[brooklynite]

9. My point was...

...that despite my "elder" age, I've maintained engagement with computer technology and means of communication. The fact that I also teach millenials in Grad School probably doesn't hurt either...

[customerserviceguy]

10. Well

I have an associate's degree in computer network administration from 2003, and as you can tell, I got that in my late 40's. I could fix a lot of computer problems that my co-workers at my last job had, so it's not a matter of a lack of tech smarts in my case.

I simply choose not to use social media, I don't even text. When I'm having a beer in the pub, and a familiar face comes over, I put the phone away, unless it's to briefly show them a picture stored on it. Real conversation with 3-D humans who are near my personal space is reality to me, not some unverified "facts" on Twitter or Facebook.

[zipplewrath]

4. GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

Sorry, but as a fellow old fart, your post comes off just a bit... Well... Old Farty.

Social Media interaction is just the latest "metric" for the measurement of influence. In "our" day, it might have been column inches, or Nielsen ratings or something.

That said, I will say that Bernie kinda demonstrated (and to some extent HRC) that these metrics, while interesting, are not "victory". At the end of the day, it is the person that can get people into the ballot box that matter.

[customerserviceguy]

11. No need

to make a stink about it!

Kidding aside, it overwhelms me to see how electronic toys are replacing what I consider to be genuine human interaction. You might be able to find the movie, "Her" which depicts a sort of dystopian world where AI has taken over, and it's a bit scary.

[zipplewrath]

12. I think it is over sold

I think back to the beginning of my career and all the supposed advances that were going to make my job easier, potentially replacing me, etc. The reality is that most of it never happened. Yes technology has made certain aspect of my job more efficient and productive. But the "skill" part of the job has never changed. I spend alot of time working with the 20 somethings pulling them away from their tools and making them think and use their education. Had an old professor that gave a set of "rules" for test taking.

1) Read the problem
2) Formulate a solution technique
3) Turn on computer
4) Do not reverse steps.

[watoos]

5. That's great, she's popular,

She is one of my top picks because we need a candidate who is tough as nails and she as a former prosecutor and former A.G. is tough as nails.

The other tough as nails candidate that I would support is Tulsi being a military veteran.

The 2020 presidential election isn't a game it's a fight for our democracy. We need a candidate who is a fighter, and I mean fighter in the literal sense. The argument that we need to compromise doesn't cut it with me. Look what Republicans did to us when they had total control, they didn't even include us in their committee meetings.
Fuck them, they are like the people in the movie "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers." They fell asleep, they are goners, they need to be put out of office.

[brooklynite]

6. Fair point, but in the early stages of the race it can have impact

With a large field, name recognition is helpful, and social media is a way of making candidates familiar.

[Kurt V.]

8. the worm is (incrementally) turning.