Facebook and Friendster: The New Election Campaign Battleground

There is no doubt that social networking sites have been an integral part of the lives of Filipinos. Facebook, Friendster, Twitter and Multiply were becoming common household terms. Alexa, an internet analysis website reported that in the Philippines, Facebook is the website with the highest traffic. And among the top ten websites, six were classified under Social Networking.




I remember a few years back when Friendster is gaining popularity. My friend taught me how to create an account and invite friends. Then, the video sharing website You Tube took the center stage. And now, Facebook seems to have won the hearts of Filipinos with their cool applications, most notably, Farmville. Microblogging sensation Twitter is also gaining popularity. The dramatic increase in the popularity of these websites is viral. And it’s all because these websites are designed to facilitate faster exchange of information.



A New Political Battleground

As the 2010 Philippine Presidential election draws near, the politicians might’ve noticed this emerging advertisement tool. Some already took advantage of these powerful communication tools. Political campaign ads have been a ubiquitous feature on Facebook and other social networking sites. Yes, the politicians saw a new battleground to lay out their plans for the country.