Recent news of former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s Twitter mishap has captured the attention of mainstream media and bloggers across the nation. In case you missed the story, here’s where you can read all the details: http://bo.st/Ygedqz

In summary, Brown was prodded by a Tweet, to which he then responded, in a very public way, with a series of typos and what were perceived to be “impaired” messages.

Tuesday night’s Presidential debate was quite the talk of the “Twitterverse.” It’s always interesting to see the real-time reactions to major events on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. Facebook allows for more monologue-style posts, while Tweets are designed to take the form of fast-paced, witty one-liners that are more easily shared. Take a look at this Twitter blog (http://bit.ly/PEGDKI) post for interesting insights on Tuesday night’s trending topics from the debate.

Smartphones seem to be an extension of our hands these days. We check Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., multiple times a day from our mobile devices. A recent Pew study (http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Smartphone-Update-Sept-2012/Findings...) found that 66% of individuals ages 18-29, and 59% of individuals ages 30-49, own smartphones. These are significant numbers that should be taken into account when planning digital strategies for brands and campaigns alike.

With the fast-approaching November election on the brain, and the first Presidential debate just hours away, let’s revisit some thoughts about the political panels from the SXSW Conference in Austin, TX last spring. There were many interesting panels and seminars on a variety of topics, ranging from the legality of what you’re Tweeting, all the way to how technology can affect city planning.

We love the Texas Grizzlette (http://texasgrizzlette.com/). And we really love her recent thesis paper on Politics & Social Media, so we decided to share it with you here on our website too. Below is the intro & link to the PDF - enjoy!

Social Media Guide
In the Information Age, the campaign proverb “all politics is local” is no longer
adequate. These days, it’s more accurate to say “all politics is social.”