ShareKUWAIT: There is no doubt that the candidates for the National Assembly elections 2022 have the right to use all traditional, modern or advanced media and new technological methods in their election campaigns, as long as they are within the legal framework, to ensure the integrity of electoral campaigns aimed at attracting voters' attention and to promote themselves. However, an observer of the current campaigns held ahead of the National Assembly Elections, which will be held on Thursday, noticed that media and propaganda campaigns are being created with various innovative and new technological methods that have changed the way Kuwaiti parliamentary election campaigns have been held previously and the way candidates interact with voters or engage in public opinion.
Speaking on the matter, Professor of Political Sociology at the College of Social Sciences at Kuwait University, Dr Marzouqa Al-Quwaidhi said that technologically advanced forms of communication were meant to address people's minds with clear words and frank discussions about issues which reflected a positive and reliable electoral result. Al-Quwaidhi pointed out that technology-based media played a significant role in this year's campaigning as it brought down the cost of campaigning and the electoral process as a whole.
"Given the wide area of the geographical constituencies amidst the five-circle system, the candidates relied on smart advertising means by managing them in a correct manner and according to a well-researched plan to influence his electoral bases."
She also noted that enthusiastic videos and rhymes are being used in promotions to motivate voters and stimulate enthusiasm in order to vote for candidates as a form of publicity and advertisement. This type of propaganda carries a brief, clear and easy message that touches the aspirations and the conscience of voters, raises their interests, and shows the purpose and objective of the nomination.
Meanwhile, Professor of Media at the College of Arts at Kuwait University, Dr Khaled Al-Quhs, said that these technological means, whether through videos or tweets, made it easier to portray the candidates' ideas and agendas to the public instead of having electoral seminars. He also mentioned innovative ways that can help candidates, such as paid podcast interviews, videos and pictures, which are circulated through different social media platforms. Al-Quhs also said that there is an innovative method to display candidates' biography, history and plans through a barcode to be scanned and easily broadcasted.
On his part, Professor of Media at the College of Arts at Kuwait University, Dr Ahmad Al-Sharif told KUNA that modern technological media is a significant driver in influencing public opinions, as social media has become the most dominant method in electoral campaigns and is taking the lead, thanks to the society's tendency to use it for being the fastest, easiest and less expensive. He added that the use of social media outlets has exceeded television usage, in terms of the number of views, and had a big effect in voter's opinions. - KUNA
