by Adam Ortega, reporter
OMAHA – Like it or not, social media and politics have become inseparable. That’s because so much of our political discourse happens via social media. Tweets and comments represent the modern-day public square. Its ability to break news in real-time has transformed the way we absorb information.
Marque Snow, legislative candidate for Nebraska, uses social media to connect with his supporters instantly. He said, “I couldn’t imagine my campaign without Twitter and Facebook. It’s so easy to reach out to voters and tell them the important issues at hand.”
He said his campaign spent over $10,000 in the last 12 months on social media branding. Marque said how he uses the platforms varies. For example, he said Twitter is for short, in-the-moment messages that are targeted toward younger voters.
Meanwhile, Facebook is used for an older demographic – “Facebook is where families, colleagues and other Omaha residents reach out to show support. That platform [Facebook] is a little more traditional,” he said.
Jon Short is a 22-year-old voter and avid social media user. He said he’s burnt out on political ads across his socials. He said, “I mean, people probably already have their minds made up. I don’t think a surprise ad from Donald Trump or Joe Biden is really going to change my opinion.”
