Recently, Votizen, a new media startup, has grasped the attention of entrepreneurs and policymakers alike—including the 2012 U.S. presidential hopefuls. The startup seeks to change how our democracy works by using a national database of 200 million voting records to connect to friends on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn on the basis of ideological preferences. Sean Parker, the founder of Napster and an early backer of Facebook and Spotify, is leading among a group of investors eager to pour money into this seemingly groundbreaking project.
As a new media venture, Votizen is innovative in that its primary purpose is not to parallel and outcompete already existing social media sites, but rather to unify them under one system. Like previous presidential elections, the 2012 election will bring with it an onslaught of political finger-pointing, mudslinging television advertising, and a lot of indecisive voters. It is during this time that Votizen hopes to curtail the unfortunate effect of petty and negative party politics. Through interconnecting users, everyone from a typical soccer mom to a political junkie will be able to spread campaign material and mobilize grassroots actions on specific issues that they find important. These exchanges, Votizen hopes, will facilitate those previously disenchanted by corrupt party politics to become more involved in American democracy by recognizing the importance of actually exercising their right to vote.
Besides promoting discussion in the realm of major elections, Votizen would be open to anyone interested in American politics. Specifically, this group would target the over a half a million people who run for one form of office or another in the United States. These candidates, with a lack of media spotlight, often do not have a forum for discussing issues. Votizen provides access to this type of forum, whether it is lend support or opposition to a U.S. presidential candidate or local school board hopeful.
Currently, research says that American students are severely lacking in knowledge of the political system and grassroots mobilization. Because of Votizen’s easy, open accessibility, it appears that the site will be not only a great tool to promote voting, but also a pragmatic way in which to ignite student interest in government and politics. Instead of simply logging on to Facebook to post more pictures on their walls, high school and university students will be able to click on campaign ads and write on wall-to-wall debates about relevant issues.
Instead of using money to sway voters with attacks on political opponents, candidates will have to rely on the issues at hand and their own ability to find solutions to problems, specifically economic and strategic, which plague the United States today. In doing so, Votizen forces candidates to reach out to local networks instead of simply successful businesses for campaign donations towards their funds.
Despite these breakthroughs in the field of politics and education, the new media start-up does raise some points of concern. Parents and education officials already see the increasingly tech-driven world as a threat in terms of security. There have been innumerable crimes and deaths that have resulted as a product of social networking sites, and so many security problems have occurred that existing sites like Facebook have made efforts to curtail private information on their pages. However, Votizen appears to be blurring the lines between personal and public information. In terms of face-to-face contact, people are often reluctant to reveal their personal beliefs, specifically with regard to political stance. Votizen makes this concealed information public, raising the question as to whether or not personal political beliefs will be simply used for educational, or confrontational purposes.
Furthermore, Votizen harbors the potential to make some groundbreaking societal changes in the field of education and politics. In becoming more connected through social media, it appears that people of all ages will become more knowledgeable and cognizant of their surroundings in the real world. Sitting in front of their computers, Americans will have access to various perspectives, and be able to use these viewpoints to challenge, defend, or even change their moral and ideological beliefs. Votizen’s success essentially depends on the interests of the people to become more educated, and more importantly, involved in the political process.
