Discuss the below:
Response 1:
New media technologies would include social media, cell phone applications and websites, all which are tied to the internet. While the Internet is a go to for interest groups to organize and mobilize members, there are negative consequences to relying on the Internet as an organizing tool. Posting items on the Internet creates a much larger audience than if printed in a monthly newsletter or magazine. Downfalls would include examples "abound of protestors in the Middle East using social networking media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to connect with other protestors and organize anti-government demonstrations" (Whitesell, 2016, p. 2). As technology advances, interest group will grow to change and mobilize members. On the flip side, interest groups can use the Internet as a tool through uploading via online. This was done during the Obama transition where "interest groups could upload policy proposals on the administration's transition website [and] as more interactions move online, there are more opportunities for interest groups to use technology to see policy change" (Whitesell, 2016, p. 26).
Response 2:
Today in our society we have many media outlets that we can go to to get information on today's news. At first the main sources of media use to be television, such as the news and talk shows but now we also have facebook, instagram, twitter, and other sources of social media. Facebook is today's number one source for news especially for 18 to 24 year olds. It is easier for interest groups to organize and mobilize their members because it is easier to reach out to people from all over the world when it is done online. People can even search groups that are of interest to them and join and communicate with people who have the same views that they have. When subjects, videos, and so on are posted on a social site it is easy for people to like and share or retweet which can help spread awareness around to other people all over the world. There are negative consequences to relying on the internet as an organizing tool because for starters, everything that is posted and shared is not true. Sometimes a group might be setting themselves up as a target for other groups or people who disagree with their views.