Social networking sites have been transformed this election season. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and others have become more than just places to waste time. They are providing students and candidates alike with great tools to increase the scope of politics on campus. Candidates can more easily reach out to young voters through networking sites, and find the perfect forum for addressing issues important to students, such as education, global warming, and the economy. Students, in turn, welcome the attention from the candidates, and are even taking advantage of social networking sites to educate and empower their peers. Campus political organizing groups are taking full advantage of networking sites to mobilize and motivate voters on campus. Students are even able to register to vote through Facebook and MySpace. Yet some students are frustrated by the emphasis the campaigns have been putting on social networking, and hope that social networking sites are not only way candidates will reach out to young voters.

More from the University of Texas at Austin student newspaper, The Daily Texan
More from the Sun Times
More on networking site success in the primaries from the Wired Blog Network