Cross-posted at TechforObama.com on Nov 2, 2008

Innovations in technology have impacted every aspect of our lives, whether it's the way we shop, the way we look for places to live or the way we keep in touch with our friends and family. It should be no surprise that recent advances in online technology have also made a big difference since 2004 in the way Americans are participating in the current election. As a small business owner whose practice at Fission Strategy involves helping people take advantage of new technology to reach their target audiences, I'm pleased to report that when it comes to using new technology, Obama employs not just talk but real action with real results. This is evident in The Pew Internet & American Life Project which did a study just after the primaries called The Internet and the 2008 Election.

We can see that while both campaigns talk about the importance of innovation, only one campaign has actually put innovation to use to reach and persuade voters. It makes a difference when one candidate Obama is willing to embrace the internet while one admits publicly that he personally doesn't even use a computer, let alone the internet. Doesn't sound like the change or "reform" that small businesses need to me.

One of the notable facts from the report shows the close of the digital divide by ethnic lines. When you look at the percentage of all adults (internet users and non-users) who look online for news and information about politics or the campaigns, latinos (43%) actually exceed whites and blacks (even at 40%), with all groups experiencing big jumps in only 4 years.

Here are a few more facts quoted from the report:

"A record-breaking 46% of Americans have used the internet, email or cell phone text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others. And Barack Obama's backers have an edge in the online political environment.

 

Furthermore, three online activities have become especially prominent as the presidential primary campaigns have progressed: First, 35% of Americans say they have watched online political videos--a figure that nearly triples the reading the Pew Internet Project got in the 2004 race.

 

Second, 10% say they have used social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace to gather information or become involved. This is particularly popular with younger voters: Two-thirds of internet users under the age of 30 have a social networking profile, and half of these use social networking sites to get or share information about politics or the campaigns.

 

Third, 6% of Americans have made political contributions online, compared with 2% who did that during the entire 2004 campaign.[...]

 

 

 

 

 

• Young voters are helping to define the online political debate; 12% of online 18-29 year olds have posted their own political commentary or writing to an online newsgroup, website or blog.
• In a head-to-head matchup with internet users who support Republican McCain, Obama's backers are more likely to get political news and information online (65% vs. 56%).
• Obama supporters outpace both Clinton and McCain supporters in their usage of online video, social networking sites and other online campaign activities."