Question

How has the Internet revolutionized political campaigns?

It has drastically reduced the need for traditional forms of advertising.
It has increased foreign participation in elections.
It has increased competition between candidates.
It has enabled immediate communication between candidates and supporters.

Answer 1

Answers 2, 3 and 4 are essentially correct; 1 is misleading.

- It has enabled immediate communication between candidates and supporters — True. Social media, email, SMS and livestreaming let campaigns speak directly and instantly to voters.
- It has increased competition between candidates — True. Lowered entry costs (crowdfunding, online organizing) and new channels for visibility increase competition for attention and resources.
- It has increased foreign participation in elections — Largely true in the sense of increased foreign influence/interference via online ads, bots and disinformation (foreign actors can more easily engage in or attempt to shape campaigns), though foreigners still cannot lawfully vote.
- It has drastically reduced the need for traditional forms of advertising — Misleading/false. The Internet has reduced the dominance and changed the mix of campaign advertising (enabling targeted digital ads), but traditional media (TV, radio, print) remain important in many campaigns.