Justin Trudeau meets with Niagara College student Philip Hoffman Friday in Welland. Photo special to Bullet News by Jeff Johnston.
JEFF JOHNSTON/Special to Bullet News
Though policy issues and specifics haven’t truly been discuss in detail yet, there are two things that are clear about Justin Trudeau’s pursuit of the Liberal leadership: He’s going for the “youth vote” and social media will play a bigger role in this campaign than ever before.
When Trudeau first decided to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, he officially announced it first on YouTube.
“I wanted to bring something on to social media that was a real world impact,” says Trudeau.
He had built a small fan base of people following him online and was happy to say, “they got to know first.”
Trudeau has over 180,000 followers and over 66,000 fans on Facebook.
According to politwitter.ca, a web site that collects data on the social media interactions of politicans in Canada, Trudeau is one of the best users of social media presence which may help him secure the youth vote.
“Everyone wants to be popular or liked on Facebook, but if you can’t mobilize people through that into real world action, that doesn’t go anywhere,” says Trudeau. “I wanted to bring something on to social media that was a real world impact,”
Though social media may be an effective way to communicate with younger voters, the difficulty is getting them to fill out a ballot when come election time. College and university-age Canadians, usually in their late teens or early twenties typically have the lowest voter turnout.
Trudeau does seem confident that he can restore optimism in young voters across Canada.
“I think we have a generation who are more interested in what’s going on with the world. More involved in community issues and big single issue causes and international issues than the generation before them,” says Trudeau. “The fact that they don’t think that politics is a worthy use of their time, is much more a reflection of the politicans, than it is young people.”
Social media does appear to have an affect on some. Despite the snowstorm that kept many people indoors, Niagara College student Philip Hoffman still made the trip to the Welland Arena Friday afternoon to meet Trudeau.
“I saw on Justin’s Facebook page that he was going to be here, so I was happy I could come,” says Hoffman.
Trudeau recently launched his “soapbox” on his personal web site. On this site, Canadians can send messages, ideas and questions directly via any social media channel.
“I know that we’re getting close to a tipping point where young people are going to realize our collective power to make change,” says Trudeau. “I’m very, very excited about what I’ve heard across the country about young people who realize, its our turn to step up.”
Jeff Johnston is a 26-year-old student-journalist from Kitchener, currently studying at Niagara College. He earned his bachelor of arts in political science at Brock University.
3 Comments on "Justin Trudeau chasing the youth vote with extensive use of social media"
well written Jeff! Keep up the good work! we’re all so proud
I think that you are probably correct that Justin Trudeau is trying to find the magic button to involve younger Canadians in the Parliamentary political process (electoral politics that is). However, nobody in Canadian Politics has managed to mobilise very much support from the youngsters before. Not saying it cannot be done, just sayin that many people have TRIED to appeal to youth, but generally have failed to get any appreciable numbers to actually cast a ballot.. Justin Trudeau is going to win because Canadians aged 45 – 55 years old have overwhelmingly good impressions of him. (As has been demonstrated in numerous polls by different polling firms. As far as engaging ‘youth’? Who knows, it would be nice to deal with the many pressing ‘youth’ issues that are totally ignored, like the real and growing problems with our labour markets failing new entrants to the working world. But here’s the thing. Like low income renters, who do NOT vote municipally, and consequently have enormous property taxes buried in their rents, youth cannot be bothered to demand skills training for example by casting a vote.
Hi! from British Columbia or the far west of Canada. Justin announced his Leadership bid here in Richmond BC to a room packed with over a thousand excited British Columbian`s. He walked into the room and you could feel the electricity ,a real and visible live reality as he made his way to the podium, and this was just his presence,he had not said a word. I have been a public speaker but I have never seen a crowd so animated, so eager, so alive, and invigorating. Justin has that quality, and that energy, and that connection with the youth of Canada, with oldies like me pensioners, with the new captains of business in the 40 to 50 age range, with educators, teachers, and professionals, all were eager to hear him speak and he did,and you could hear a pin drop as he started to speak. BC of course had the first all leadership candidates debate and again Justin was balanced, and pragmatic, reminding us why we are Liberals and very ably pointing out what we stand for, the creation of a strong free enterprise sector with wealth generation that is balanced with a social conscience. He was very well received and was up there with the best of them. He inspired hope and that to me is really what we Canadians are looking for. I feel he will do the Liberal party proud , and I for one pledge my wholehearted support. Hope you will support Justin and get a winner you can back.