The Role of Twitter in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

Abstract

Presidential politics have always been using innovative ways in the way elections and campaigns are organized. The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election has witnessed the investment of internet by the candidates (Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton). This dissertation explores the contribution of social media networks to the 2016 U.S. presidential campaigns. It focuses on the role of Twitter platform in the effectively-conducted electoral campaigns. The researcher provides an overview about the system of presidential elections in the U.S. constitution and history. The presidential campaigns, particularly Clinton’s and Trump’s, are demonstrated with references to major debates, polls and conflicts. Finally, an exploration of Trump and Clinton’s digitalized platforms is provided. Twitter is found to have significant role of information dissemination and controlling voters’ reactions and enthusiasm. Besides, it seemed to massively contribute to Trump’s popularity.