… As Facebook morphed into a ubiquitous social utility used by seventy-one percent of Americans and “popular across a diverse mix of demographic groups,” my colleague, Ed Erickson, and I speculated that Facebook data might very well provide a reliable measure of campaign effectiveness and enable the development of a […] Read more »
How Donald Trump courted the right-wing fringe to conquer the GOP
… Trump’s dominance in this year’s presidential primary race has often been described as a mysterious natural phenomenon: the Donald riding a wild, unpredictable tsunami of conservative populist anger that just now happens to be crashing down on the Republican establishment. But in fact, Trump spent years methodically building and […] Read more »
Chicken or Egg? Media pull versus push
… This election season, On the Media is teaming up with the data news site Five Thirty Eight to track the push and pull between polling, media attention, and public interest. CONT. On The Media Read more »
Like It Or Not, Political Campaigns Are Using Facebook To Target You
Some of the most important real estate in presidential politics is actually right in front of your nose. Or under your thumbs — it really depends on how you log onto Facebook. The social network is now a key place for campaigns to advertise. One reason for that: it’s getting […] Read more »
We Need Smartphones! (And All the Latest Stuff)
The modern digital revolution, begun in the 1980s, now dominates Americans’ lives—down to the ways they communicate, work, learn, and shop. A startling 69 percent of Americans said that having the latest technology is “total[ly] necessary” to their lives, according to the results of the most recent Heartland Monitor Poll. […] Read more »
Wishbone teen polling app has 3.1 million users
For the first time, Santa Monica technology company Science Inc. has deemed one of its nearly 20 apps a hit. … On Wednesday, Science deemed a polling app it launched in March called Wishbone a success, based on its ability to attract 3.1 million monthly users, mostly girls. It’s also […] Read more »