Internet Politics in Singapore

CS2002Yeo Han Zhong

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Singapore’s General Elections in May 2011 has received the epithet of  being its “First Internet Election”.

Discuss the pros and cons of Internet politics and whether this has necessarily been a good thing.

“There is no doubt that new media played a significant role in the way political parties and candidates communicated with voters, and the way citizens communicated with one another” (IPS, 2011).

Defining an “Internet Election”An Internet election can be defined as one in which the Internet played a significant role in the election process and outcome.

Key CharacteristicsThe Internet is expected to be:

1. A key channel for voters to communicate and exchange views and opinions.

2. A key channel for political parties and candidates to engage and move voters, thereby influencing the voters’ views and the voting results.

Background of 2011 General Elections

For the first time in Singapore, political parties were allowed to use social media to reach out to voters.

Political parties and most candidates had their official Facebook and Twitter pages.

-> Ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), Workers’ Party (WP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) etc.

-> George Yeo, Nicole Seah, Chen Shou Mao etc.

Election news updates were readily updated on these pages.

Background of 2011 General ElectionsFacebook and Twitter pages of political parties & candidates:

Background of 2011 General ElectionsTwo-ways engagement and communication:

Social media1. Became major platforms for the dissemination of information and engagement of voters by the various political parties and candidates.

2. Provided voters with the option of accessing social media platforms for sources of information as well as to exchange their opinions and feedback.

Online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and forums became important and alternate sources of information for many voters.

Background of 2011 General Elections

Key Impact of Internet Politics on 2011 GE:

Enhanced prominence of the new media in the last General Elections had facilitated not just a two-way communication between voters and political parties or candidates, but also enhanced inter-communication between voters.

Pros of Internet PoliticsRise of Internet politics via the new media:

1. Provides greater visibility for marginalised political parties and sub-groups.

2. Facilitates enhanced coordination and collaboration within and between political parties.

3. Grants greater freedom for discussion of Singapore politics.

4. Enables society to engage with politics on a higher level.

1. Greater Visibility for Marginalised Political Parties and Sub-groupsIn Singapore, the mainstream media:

-> Has often been regarded to be dominated by the ruling PAP party.

-> Is perceived to represent and portray more of the ruling party’s views and opinions, granting them much more visibility.

Negative Consequence:-> Marginalised opposition parties often get either less coverage or less positive coverage in the mainstream media.

1. Greater Visibility for Marginalised Political Parties and Sub-groups

With new media:

Marginalised opposition parties can directly engage the public by sharing their views and opinions on their social media pages.

-> This grants them enhanced visibility to the public and allows for a more objective evaluation of their views and opinions.

2. Enhanced Coordination and Collaboration Within and Between PartiesWith new media: Political parties have greater flexibility in making changes to their political manifesto as well as to their internal structures.

With just a few clicks and a little bit of typing, key announcements and updates can be made through the parties’ official websites or their social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

-> Gives them not just more flexibility but also allows for a more timely dissemination of information.

2. Enhanced Coordination and Collaboration Within and Between Parties

New media provides: A platform and opportunity to cultivate consensus between different political parties.

With information so readily available on the online pages of the different political parties:

-> Ideas and viewpoints can be more easily shared and exchanged among these parties.

3. Greater Freedom for Political Discussion

New Media:Allows political websites to be hosted and based overseas.

Eg. Socio-political website Temasek Review Emeritus

-> Greater freedom for discussion of Singapore politics without legislative restrictions in Singapore.

-> Beneficial for development of the opposition voice in Singapore, which would otherwise be restricted by strict laws governing freedom of expression.

3. Greater Freedom for Political DiscussionTemasek Review Emeritus:

4. Higher Level of Political Engagement for SocietyWith new media: Society is able to engage with politics on a higher level.

Increased political outreach:-> Ease of access to first hand information disseminated by political parties and candidates on their respective online pages increases political outreach to the general public.

Engagement of Wider Audience:-> Use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter which have a massive outreach to the younger generations allows political parties and candidates to engage not just a greater audience but also a wider audience.

4. Higher Level of Political Engagement for Society

All these are vital in building political awareness and encouraging greater participation from a wide audience.

Two-way engagement between political parties and voters as well as the freedom of discussion and debate among voters can better fulfill the principles of democracy and bring about a higher level of political engagement in our society.

Cons of Internet Politics

Rise of Internet politics via the new media:

1. Increases the possibility that news and information from the new media may be more lop-sided in favour of marginalised parties.

2. Leads to the likelihood of a clash between official and non-official information.

3. Results in a likely abuse of the new media.

1. Lop-sided News and InformationNews and information from the new media may be more lop-sided in favour of marginalised parties.

-> Due to different extent of interest and preference for new media use among different parties.

1. Lop-sided News and Information

Likely that prominent ruling party has less interest to use new media while marginalised parties are more interested to use new media.

Prominent ruling party: Dominates mainstream media -> Already has high visibility and therefore has lesser reliance on new media to disseminate news and information.

Marginalised parties: Less coverage in mainstream media-> Less visibility and therefore more reliant on new media to disseminate news and information.

1. Lop-sided News and Information

As a result, news and information from the new media may carry more of the marginalised parties’ perspectives.

-> New media may not be a neutral platform for news and information.

2. Clash Between Official and Non-Official Information

With the ease of posting information on new media:

-> There may be a clash between official information and non-official information.

With the abundant information available on new media:

-> It may be difficult to distinguish between facts or opinions.

-> This reduces the credibility of new media as a reliable source of information.

2. Clash Between Official and Non-Official InformationSocio-political website Temasek Review Emeritus has mostly anonymous editors and contributors.

-> Less inclined to be emphasise accuracy of information posted as they do not have to be accountable to the public.

News and information posted often carry strongly critical and sometimes sarcastic opinions.

-> Temasek Review Emeritus called “Singapore’s top rumour website”.

-> Not only misleads the public but also reduces the credibility of news and information posted.

3. Abuse of New MediaNew media use may be abused by both ruling party and marginalised political sub-groups.

Ruling party: New media may be used as a monitoring tool, to monitor negative opinions or dissent against the government.

-> May involve the monitoring of political websites which are known to be critical of the government (e.g. The Online Citizen,

Yawning Bread, Temasek Review Emeritus).

Marginalised parties or sub-groups: The ease of posting information and opinions on new media may result in irresponsible and defamatory postings.

3. Abuse of New MediaCase Example:Recently, the editor of Temasek Review Emeritus, Richard Wan, was dealt a legal warning by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for a defamatory post which questioned the legitimacy of his wife Ho Ching’s position in Temasek Holdings.

3. Abuse of New Media

Therefore, it can be seen that abuse of the new media works both ways.

-> Ruling party may use it as a monitoring tool while marginalised subgroups may use it irresponsibly to post unverified information that may constitute slander.

Conclusion: Effects of Internet Politics

Has it necessarily been a good thing for Singapore?

Positive Effect (is limited):

Even though the rise of Internet politics via the new media has a key impact on transforming the election experience process by facilitating a two-way engagement between political parties and voters,

-> It merely expands the dimensions for the discussion and exchange of information and opinions.

Conclusion: Effects of Internet PoliticsExtent of influence and effectiveness of Internet politics for Singapore was largely limited.

According to a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in relation to the 2011 General Elections:

-> Only 30% of respondents relied mainly on new media platforms such as Facebook and blogs for election news and information.

-> It is interesting to note that of this 30%, 95.5% also consumed mainstream media for election content at the same time.

Conclusion: Effects of Internet Politics

Only 30% of respondents relied mainly on new media platforms such as Facebook and blogs for election news and information.

Choice of Media

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

New MediaMainstream Media

Choice of Media

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

New Media & Mainstream MediaMew Media Only

Of this 30%, 95.5% also consumed mainstream media for election content at the same time.

Conclusion: Effects of Internet PoliticsAnalysis of Survey Results:

It can be seen that new media and mainstream media’s are not mutually exclusive categories and the extent of influence each has are not measurable separately.

It is not realistic to assume that people form their political opinions directly from the kind of media they consume.

-> Voters are still most likely to vote based on their interests and be influenced by the bread-and-butter issues.

-> Voters’ decision unlikely to be shaped by type of media consumption.

Conclusion: Effects of Internet Politics

Further Limitations of Internet Politics in Singapore:

The ruling party’s power and control over the media system in Singapore extends to both mainstream media and new media.

-> Limits the extent of evolvement and development of Internet politics in Singapore.

Conclusion: Internet Politics in SingaporeHas it necessarily been a good thing for Singapore?

Internet politics in the context of Singapore last’s General Election:

Opinions, information and feedback may be shared and attitudes and perceptions may be changed, but ultimately:

These merely marks the beginning of a new era of po l i t i ca l engagement and no t a concre te transformation of the overall political landscape in Singapore.