Between 2008 and 2012, voters lost control of their personal data and campaigns gained powerful tools to target individuals. While early social media sites in 2008 allowed users to connect with others and the candidate, by 2012 campaigns built sophisticated profiles of individuals and could target them directly through social media apps on sites like Facebook and MittRomney.com.

1. Yes, They Can
What voters have lost
And what campaigns have gained
Between 2008 and 2012
Micah Sifry -- @mlsif
Personal Democracy Media
SXSW panel on 2012 election

2. Don’t be fooled by digital candy

3. My.BarackObama.com ‘08

5. My.BarackObama.com ‘12

7. “Facebookization”

12. Is this a disclaimer?

13. This app can…

15. MittRomney.com

16. How to join MyMitt

18. This app can, too…

19. The Internet doesn’t
empower anyone.
People empower
themselves.
One-to-many and
many-to-one is
easy.
Many-to-many is hard.