The Snapchat Election

September 29, 2016 in Daily Bulletin

Rich McCormick looked at the use of Snapchat by America’s Presidential candidates:

  • In the lead up to 2016’s first American Presidential Debate, the Trump campaign bought Snapchat filters titled “Donald J. Trump vs. Crooked Hillary”, that were available across America
  • In an apparent concession to the makers of Snapchat, who likely want to remain as neutral as possible, during the debate itself the filter turned into a generic pro-Trump filter, with the attack on Clinton removed.
  • Clinton too has bought Snapchat filters, but has limited them to region specific ones, that can only be accessed in certain locations, such as at football games.
  • Outside groups such as the conservative Judicial Watch have also used the filters – during the Benghazi hearings those inside the room where Clinton was testifying were able to use a filter that said “this message will disappear – just like Hillary Clinton’s emails”.
  • According to one study, two thirds of millennials who use Snapchat will likely vote in the 2016 elections.

Read more at The Verge.