Social Polling

I came across this article that talks about the intersection between social media and polling, a term called "social polling." http://techland.time.com/2012/02/20/polling-and-social-media-collide-with-social-polling/

Typically, polls are conducted based on a random sample of people. This has been fairly effective in the past but can be very costly and time consuming. Now, thanks to the internet and social media sites, it is easier than ever to conduct a poll. Social polling is not replacing the traditional way of polling anytime soon, rather, it is an extension to the way we conduct polling. Social media sites are primarily used by people aged in the early teens to those in their 50's. Although we are seeing a growing trend in people 65 and over using social media sites, the numbers are not there yet to represent an accurate number of that demographic group. One day, we will be there, but for now, we cannot just rely on social polling. John Zogby, an independent pollster, "believes the country will “absolutely” get there, just as people eventually accepted the major shift in the polling world in the 1970s: the change from knocking on people’s doors to calling landline phones––and later, cell phones—to gather public opinion." 

There are social polling companies popping up, such as Quipol and GoPollGo, who are hired by companies or campaign groups to conduct polls on social media sites. These companies work with Facebook to put these polls on certain individual's Facebook page depending on their demographics. For example, I saw a poll the other day on Facebook that asked me if I had heard about the new Xbox One that is coming out. Just like I play Xbox, someone who lists "cooking" in their interests might see polls about restaurants in their area. This is similar to commercials on TV that try to reach certain demographics. If you've ever stayed home sick or just watch the Price is Right, you'll notice that pretty much all of the commercials are aimed at people over 65 years old or an ad for an attorney if you've been injured in an accident. Social Polling has the potential to bring social media and politics to the next level. Politicians can instantly see how certain people polled on hot issues rather than waiting for a polling group to call or go out and poll individual people. Social media is becoming more than just a way of staying connected with friends, it is becoming an outlet for people to influence what decisions are being made in D.C.