Role of the Social Media in Politics: the Impact on the youth. Is it exaggerated?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am thankful to the people who have been helpful to me throughout for completing my research study and without these people by my side it would have been impossible for me to complete this dissertation. Particularly, I am grateful to my friends, family and facilitator for their helpful and extensive comments on the earlier drafts that were submitted. I am also thankful to the authors who preceded me and shared my interests. The works of other authors have provided me with a bunch of information to learn and build from and they also served as examples to imitate.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Aims and Objectives2

Research Questions3

Significance of the study3

Layout of the Study3

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Face book (Social Media) and West Bengal7

Social Media, Face book and Politics in the West Bengal8

The Relationship between Political Development in West Bengal and Modernization Theory10

Subaltern theory and the politics of Bengal11

Political Engagement in West Bengal and the Youth12

West Bengal Political Economy15

The Impact of Face book on Politics17

Summary19

REFERENCES22

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

There is no doubt that the social media especially the internet has revolutionized in the society fo today, just as radio and television did in each of their respective times. The Internet has made information accessible, to anyone at any given time, and has opened communication channels that that were not thought possible 20 years ago. Many entities have tried to harness the power of the Internet to their advantage, none more so than politics (Fraser, 2007, pp. 7).

People are turning to the Internet more and more for news. Politicians have taken note of this and are attempting to determine how the Internet is impacting potential voters. In the 2000 election, the Internet made its first major political appearance, with this new medium, the expectations were high. "There was a giddy, expectant hysteria. Measured against lofty expectations, and impossible hype, the Internet disappointed. The evolution of technology and the Internet gives politicians a whole new playing field, where the cost is minimal and the potential to reach more voters than with any other medium. By using the Internet as a campaign tool, in the West Bengal, politicians may have found the key to targeting young voters. Young voters would be those between the ages of 18-29, however this study will focus on college students, where the typical student age would fall between the ages of 18-24. When it comes to engaging the college students, politicians in the past have fallen short. In an attempt to rectify this, the candidates are taking their campaigns to the Internet (Downey & Fenton, 2003, pp. ...