Monica Unseld, Ph.D, MPH’s Post

My latest substack post starts out like this: In our current era of digital interconnectivity, social media has become the primary lens through which (unfortunately) many Americans view the world. It is shaping our perceptions of reality, politics, and each other. While these platforms have the power to inform and connect, they also have the insidious potential to manipulate and polarize. It is increasingly evident that what we individually assume to be true in the realm of politics is often distorted by algorithms designed to maximize engagement rather than foster understanding ... You can read the rest here: https://lnkd.in/g2S8D9TM

I don't know Ken Martin of Minnesota DFL Party, but boy, do we think alike - read the full “Unpopular Opinion” post here: https://lnkd.in/eRTU9WPn : https://lnkd.in/eGJ8CFXK (via POLITICO and Elena Schneider). Here's the premise: Welcome, Democrats, to the Non-Trad Era Democrats seemingly owned both the narrative and moral authority in 2024 - so why was the MAGA sweep so surprising to us?  Because we had our eye on the wrong prize in 2024 - Democrats failed to pay anything more than lip service to how fundamentally different the American public consumes media today.  We prioritized traditional news media coverage and only dabbled in social media, streaming audio, and gaming whereas the MAGA movement spent 8 years steadily building, nurturing, and ultimately capitalizing on an alternative media ecosystem.  And it is in that new media ecosystem that MAGA slowly but surely molded societal norms for political discourse, tolerance, gender roles, and the like amongst more than half of the voting public - and even more potential voters.  To be clear:  running ads during podcasts, Twitch live streams, or saturating Meta is not what moves the needle - engaging in this new media ecosystem does.  It is at our peril that we ignore these lessons:  Democrats are completely absent from public discourse today because we fail to participate in the new “town squares” of society.  We navigated the 2024 race using outdated media maps and failed to chart routes across the new media - the non-traditional media - landscape.

🗳️ Seizing the Advantage of Time In politics, the phrase “time is money” couldn’t be truer. Candidates who enter the race early and hit the ground running have the unique opportunity to secure endorsements, establish their platforms, and connect with voters before the competition intensifies. Political consultants agree that early campaigns enjoy increased donor confidence, media attention, and grassroots support. In a digital age where trends and narratives evolve quickly, getting in early also provides the luxury of course-correcting strategies as needed.

The People First research team analyzed the social media conversation following the Democratic National Convention and identified five key emotions that users responded with: 😊 Joy 🌟 Vision 🤝 Unity 🌳 Lineage 📈 Progress Read the full report to learn more. Thanks to Magdalena, Nicole, Ariel, & Adam for putting this together!

Unveiling the Reality of Political Social Media Manipulation Dive into the intriguing world of political social media strategy with our latest video! We meticulously dissect the tactics employed by former Aam Aadmi Party party leader Ankit Lal to shape public opinion, steer narratives, and dominate the online political sphere. 🔎 Through meticulous analysis and scrutiny, we shed light on the hidden strategies utilized by Ankit Lal, Ex - Aam Aadmi Party's Social Media head unraveling the intricacies of his approach to online influence. Join us as we peel back the layers, revealing the truth behind the veil and exposing the covert maneuvers that define the dark underbelly of political social media manipulation. 📺 Watch now to gain insight into the mechanisms driving the online political landscape: [https://lnkd.in/d5ApeR6R]

Perspectives | How social media platforms provide a forum to foster political liberty and are hence useful from the liberal standpoint are demonstrated. In order to ensure that they continue to act as platforms that serve to enrich liberal goals, regulation of the content posted on social media platforms is a responsibility that must be bestowed upon the right actors. Showcasing the unsuitability of the major existing actors in the field of regulation, an alternative solution is proposed in this article that can maintain the integrity of the platforms’ liberal fabric. https://lnkd.in/d5CZmyVv

Perspectives | How social media platforms provide a forum to foster political liberty and are hence useful from the liberal standpoint are demonstrated. In order to ensure that they continue to act as platforms that serve to enrich liberal goals, regulation of the content posted on social media platforms is a responsibility that must be bestowed upon the right actors. Showcasing the unsuitability of the major existing actors in the field of regulation, an alternative solution is proposed in this article that can maintain the integrity of the platforms’ liberal fabric. https://lnkd.in/d5CZmyVv

Hello everyone , I just watched an incredible video on the Think School ® YouTube channel that dives deep into the speculation and analysis. 🚀 Fascinating Insights on the Future of U.S. Leadership! 🇺🇸 The U.S. election season is heating up, and with it, the world is watching closely. One of the most fascinating case studies in modern marketing is Donald Trump’s unexpected victories in the 2016 and potentially 2024 elections. In 2016, Hillary Clinton seemed like the inevitable winner. Her resume included: • First Lady of the U.S. • U.S. Senator from New York • Secretary of State under Barack Obama, handling major projects and crises, including the Arab Spring and Osama bin Laden’s death. In contrast, Donald Trump had: • No public office experience • No foreign policy or government background • A reputation tied to luxury hotels, casinos, and reality TV Hillary Clinton also had: • Endorsements from Barack Obama • Strong media support Yet, Trump won. How? Trump’s Marketing and Election Strategies: 1. Branding and Media Savvy: Trump leveraged his personal brand and media presence. He understood how to dominate news cycles, often through controversy and bold statements. 2. Outsider Appeal: He positioned himself as a political outsider, resonating with voters frustrated with the establishment. 3. Targeted Messaging: His campaign focused on key issues like immigration and trade, appealing directly to specific voter concerns. 4. Social Media Mastery: Trump used social media to bypass traditional media and connect directly with voters, amplifying his messages. Lessons from Trump’s Strategies: 1. Personal Branding: Develop a strong, distinctive brand that stands out. 2. Media Savvy: Use media to your advantage, even if it means creating controversy. 3. Understand Voter Concerns: Tailor your message to address the core issues that resonate with your audience. 4. Leverage New Platforms: Embrace digital and social media to engage directly with your target audience. Trump’s approach underscores the power of strategic branding and media manipulation in modern politics. #PoliticalAnaysis #leadership #USPresidency #ThinkSchool #FutureOfPolitics Dr. Tapish Panwar ATLAS SkillTech University Prof. Dr. Zuleika Homavazir Dr Indu Shahani

The parallels from this election to what we do as consumer marketers are real. Most of our industry tries to put people into ideological buckets based on identity which I would now characterize as anametur thinking. The new way is to truly understand what motivates people and only by digging in and having thoughtful, sustained conversation can you get to insights. This is the way.