Political campaigns are evolving in the internet era. Social media is being used by UK political parties such as Labour and the Conservatives to add humour to their messaging, making politics more approachable and interesting.
The Influence of Online Humour
Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook have been used as the arena for the battle of political influence. A Funny tweet or meme has the power to go viral and extend far beyond conventional marketing strategies.
Labour Party: Satire and Memes
Labour has used satire and memes to draw attention to its own policies and criticise those of their opponents. Their use of well-known online jokes to address critical topics during the 2019 general election attracted a lot of attention and shares, which increased their reach and amplified their messaging. This general election they have upped the antics using social media to showcase policies, they produced engaging content such as interactive articles, short films, snackable TikToks and infographics.
Getting the Young Vote
It's certain that Labour wanted to encourage younger voters to cast ballots, as evidenced by their heavy reliance on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Younger influencers and party members who appeal to this demographic are frequently featured in the party's online campaign. Labour wants to engage this important electorate by speaking their language and focusing on topics that are important to them. As part of their social media strategy, they responded to opponents' criticism and attacks with humour and speed.
This witty approach was mirrored in the conservatives party's campaign, a strategy that aids in countering negative messages and converting possible disadvantages into engagement opportunities.
Conservatives: Wit and Parody
The Conservatives have made good use of comedy, humanising their candidates and responding to criticism with clever one-liners and spoof videos. Their lighthearted videos, which made fun of Labour ideas during the most recent election, were meant to be both politically charged and entertaining.
The Reasons Humour is Effective
Humour makes political discourse memorable and more engaging by cutting through the clutter. Politicians become more relatable and their words become more human. A clever joke at the right moment can persuade undecided voters by highlighting policy and opponents shortcomings.
Grinning and Winning Over Voters
Both Labour and the Conservatives increased voter engagement and won over support by creating humorous and shareable content. The capacity to relate on an emotional and personal level is crucial in this race of rivals.
Given that social networking sites played a huge role in this British election, I believe social media emerged the true victors after all. It will be interesting to see how the social media campaigns post election take shape.
