Trump Disapproval Voiced Loudly on Social Media
Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are now becoming the voice for those to express their thoughts on politics. These websites allow users to discuss their opinions on a global scale, and Donald Trump seems to be on the bad side of many Americans.
Donald Trump actively uses his Twitter page to announce ongoing things from the White House but also responds to people's comments. Other users like Trump also use social media platforms to voice their opinions on political matters.
The Pew Research Center conducted a study June 10, 2018, to June 9, 2019, about how much users tweeted about political issues and if they disapprove or agree with certain topics.
According to the chart, 55% of Twitter users strongly disapprove of President Trump.
Even if Trump is widely disliked on Twitter, according to the research that was done by the Pew Research Center, that does not deter our president from being an active member on Twitter and other social media platforms using the sites as a political tool.
Micheal D. Shear, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, said Trump reshaped the presidency in over 11,000 tweets.
“When Mr. Trump entered office, Twitter was a political tool that had helped get him elected and a digital howitzer that he relished firing,” said Shear. “In the years since, he has fully integrated Twitter into the very fabric of his administration, reshaping the nature of the presidency and presidential power.”
Some people argue that the President should not use Twitter as much as he does and that it may be the link to his low approval rating.
Otis Sanford, Hardin Chair of Excellence in Economic and Managerial Journalism at the University Memphis, said it is expected for politicians to use social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook but states that there is a proper way to use these platforms accordingly.
“In today’s social media world, it is reasonable and expected that politicians will communicate through Twitter, Facebook and other platforms,” Sanford said. “The key is to be respectful, professional and above all, truthful. However, I do not recommend that politicians use social media as much as the current President does. I certainly do not think politicians should use Twitter to attack someone and spread false information.”
Social media allows users to share their thoughts with others, allowing users to participate in conversations about politics, which is often a trending topic.
“Anything an elected or public official say on social media is, in fact, public and can be used against them,” Sanford said. “I do believe some politicians overuse social media. Some of it is intended to speak directly to their constituents while circumventing the traditional media, but elected officials should be held accountable for their actions. That includes what they say on social media.”
Sanford also said that most people might just be looking for attention when posting political views to get a reaction out of others.
“I certainly believe users are more likely to post political views online,” Sanford said. “Whether they believe everything they post is another matter. Sometimes people post things just to get a reaction. I call that attention-seeking behavior.”
Joseph Raymond Hayden, professor at the University of Memphis Journalism department, said that overexposure could be the problem.
“The issue really isn’t how much they use something like Twitter, but how well they do so. And Donald Trump doesn’t use it well,” Hayden said. “Getting the most out of it starts with garnering attention, which he certainly does, but it also includes gaining support, persuading others and building a positive image, all of which he fails miserably at doing.”
Hayden also said the television is a good or bad way for some people to become famous in politics.
“He’s a creature of the world of entertainment TV, in which all publicity is supposedly good publicity,” Hayden said. “I’m not sure that was ever really true of entertainment, but it’s definitely false for politics. Overexposure is a real thing but tricky and subjective and probably in the eye of the beholder. PR experts are probably the authority here, but all of us are familiar with thirsty attention hogs whose every utterance is increasingly pathetic and irritating.”
