Politics 2.0

Just saw a Mashable post on how Arnold Schwarzenegger is using Twitter, a widget (below) and YouTube to push California legislators to pass his budget.



In many ways social media has come of age in 2008. Far from being perceived as a waste of time or a gimmicky marketing tool, political use of social media seems have given it a new air of respectability and seriousness. And politicians using social media are seen as being in sync with web savvy voters and open to interactive dialogue with their constituents.
While Barack Obama is the perfect case study of a public figure's use of social media, it wasn't just leaders in the West that embraced the Internet. In the Middle East we have Queen Rania of Jordan whose YouTube foray has won her accolades.
On the eve of a whole new year (not one that looks particularly bright) I wonder what 2009 will hold for social media. I guess we'll just have to wait and watch. But one thing's for sure...this isn't just a passing fad.

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