Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in the midst of a cultural revolution. The age of the Social Network is among the most momentous paradigm shifts that we've ever seen and it's quite astonishing that it is still in its infancy. Although the Internet has been around for over two decades, it wasn't nearly as prevalent then as it is now. Today, we're bearing witness to the vitality of Social Network due to its ubiquitous nature. We see it being implemented into politics, entertainment, sports, as well as businesses, both big and small. Needless to say, it has taken a life of its own. What impresses me most about Social Networking is its malleability which is exemplified in President Obama's use in his run for office back in 2008. Prior to President Obama, most politicians sought to appeal to the social media realm by raising money for their campaigns. Others, such as former President George W. Bush, resorted to more conservative ways of reaching voters. This included the use of phone banks, voter lists, and direct mail. Bush believed that switching to a more technologically-based method would be costly. However, President Obama thought differently. He saw social networking as something more. He saw social networking as an entity that could be built on relationships, reliability, efficiency, accuracy, precision, and innovation. Often times, we as constituents feel disengaged from the politicians representing us. As a result, we second-guess the importance in our vote. Obama's tactics in reaching out to his supporters and building a database essentially highlighted his willingness to make his communication with his supporters much more interpersonal. This made sense. People have a better chance in feeling that they are involved in the decision-making of who's elected if they are somehow included in the conversation. This notion helped Obama tremendously because it had never been done before. This is the same forward-thinking we desired as a nation especially after having suffered the worst recession since the Great Depression. Obama understands that our world is highly mobilized. Therefore, he sought to adapt to the changes in culture and use them to his benefit, for our benefit. Not once did he do this, but twice, as he ran for re-election in 2012 and was re-elected.

The impact of Social Networking can never be measured. We often highlight the adverse effects of social networking by addressing the threats it presents. We constantly hear about sexual predators, cyberbullies, and hackers but fail to establish a more positive outlook on the Internet. Social Networking is an important tool for social change. It cannot be limited to only one form of use. While we use it mostly to socialize it can be used as a tool to unify. A unifying tool that promotes solidarity and promotes goodwill. Obama sought to explore this idea further during his run for Presidency. By allowing himself to adapt to the changes in culture, he was able to make himself much more relevant and even more viable candidate for office. This is lacking in the political arena as we feel very disconnected from politicians. Is this why Donald Trump can't stay off of Twitter?