In the era of misinformation and accusations, there is an appetite for reliable news sources. Traditional news sources are getting called out by politicians on both sides of the aisle. Where do you the real deal scoop on politicians and policy issues that come straight from the source, the actual people who are affected by these regulations? Twitter? Yes but there are drawbacks. "Robo" dialing? Good luck getting a Millennial to pick-up a phone call from an unidentified number. The next twenty years are going to be very interesting and incredibly disruptive if political parties don't get it right now.
Politicians are going to need a new weapon in their arsenal if they want to reach the people. Unsolicited texts carry a hefty fine, and even Facebook is going to clamp down on political messages. Traditional campaigning as we know it is dying. Mailers and going to door to door doesn't make sense when the amount of time online is going up and up. Digital natives are now in their mid-20s and up as a digital presence is essential for political survival, not just to get in office, but to stay there and reach the people effectively.
The recent gun-related tragedy in Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school has shown that the youth have a voice and are ready to move on specific issues. A trend many (including myself) expect to exponentially increase as the 'old guard' see their ranks decrease. Although traditional funding from Political Action Committees (PACs), politicians are wary of accepting money from special interest groups. Watchdog groups and technology make the political process transparent which will force politicos to raise money directly from the people. There are many apps out there that assist with fundraising for political campaigns as micro-contributions will eventually eclipse the deep pockets of corporations, hence cutting down on influence peddling.
Allyus.org is new tech startup looking to provide a non-partisan platform for voting on issues, putting together petitions and even calling people out on fake news. Afraid of sharing your beliefs publicly? The platform allows you to vote anonymously (a feature that will polarise many). By being able to mobilize your local support immediately, demonstrations can be put together in hours and petitions will get the attention they deserve as you really can't argue with large numbers. Allyus.org have also partnered with Civic Technologies (an ID Blockchain) to prevent fake sign-ups.
Benjamin Shahin: Founder and CEO, Allyus: "Currently there are sites/apps out there but they are generally partisan and clearly lead one way. This is a non-partisan platform where citizens can vote, enter or sign a petition anonymously or publicly. Once the petition reaches a certain level, it can be sent to the right legislator. We are backed by Blockchain technology, therefore, offering a truly decentralized technology that can provide the paradigm for the current and future political process. Allyus.org is truly a transparent platform when it comes to the issues and blockchain technology ensures that there is no foul play."
There are hundreds of apps and new websites covering politics and, despite recent elections, TV still reigns for spend and effectivity (depending on who you talk to). Increasingly, even with new rules and stipulations from the likes of Twitter and Facebook, digital will become a guiding force in the future of politics. Apps like Allyus will become important to fight the misinformation In 2018 the screens are smaller, attention spans are shorter and the time adoption of a digital-first strategy is now, emerging technologies not only will drive cars but will also shape and influence our local and global political process.