In this historically divisive time, there’s agreement on one thing: Political texting is completely out of control.
That ping on your phone, once welcomed, is delivering a textapocalypse of doomsday scenarios, false claims and desperate pleas to INVEST $20, $10 OR EVEN $5 IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS! DEADLINE TONIGHT!
Political campaigns are increasingly turning to text messaging for communication, surpassing the more traditional yard signs, phone calls or flyers. Texts are cheap, costing just pennies per message. They grab our attention. They can be personalized, tailored to a voter’s interests. And they can be effective, helping with voter turnout, volunteerism and sometimes fundraising. Republicans and Democrats are equal offenders.
Yet there is little federal oversight or scrutiny of political texts. And it’s tough to detect a scam.
“Texts are the most intimate platform there is. We want to hear from family and friends, not politicians’ thoughts about how America is ‘on the precipice,’ ” said Scott Wallsten, president of the Technology Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., which studies innovation and regulation.
Laws or regulations governing political speech move into tricky territory, he said. It’s important that candidates have ways to reach citizens to explain positions and encourage them to vote.
But texts feel invasive — and, as Election Day approaches, they seem increasingly unhinged.
“There isn’t much time left. This may be my last text to you,” reads one. OMG — is the candidate trapped in quicksand? Is his plane going down?
Some are elegiac. “Our hearts sank … We prayed we were wrong, Patriot. But if you don’t already know, here’s what happened,” said another. To learn more — who died? Why am I a Patriot? — you must click on a link.
Others are just pathetic. “Look, these texts are really expensive to send. Can you please just read what I wrote?” pleads a message seeking campaign donations.
That old world of campaigning doesn’t exist anymore. So we asked experts to answer questions about this newest, and most annoying, form of campaign communication.
Q: Seems like a waste. Why do they even bother?
A: Research shows that text messaging is good for turnout. “Can we count on your vote?” That kind of thing can get people to say that they’re going to vote. It’s definitely good as a fundraising tool.
I think the rise of text messaging has a lot to do with people stopping reading emails. And it’s cheaper. You can send out a text to every voter in your district three times before the election and spend less money than you would on half of a mailer.
— Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc., specializing in California voter data and software tools.
We open about 98% of all texts we receive. That’s an irresistible target.
— Scott Wallsten
Q: How did they get my cell number?
A: Your voter registration. Even if you update your registration with a landline number, there is still a “field” in the record that might contain your cell number.
— Paul Mitchell
Campaigns also buy and sell data from other political …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
