Election Outcomes Hinged on Social Media Over Policy, Experts Say
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former MK Eitan Cabel and advisor Itzik Elrov stated that election platforms have been replaced by social media, with TikTok now a major influence. They explained that parties, recognizing shorter public attention spans, focus on "soundbites" rather than detailed policy. Elrov and Cabel believe undecided voters are primarily swayed by security concerns, particularly preventing a repeat of the October 7th attacks, which overshadows economic and social issues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Election platforms have disappeared, replaced by social media like TikTok, according to Eitan Cabel and Itzik Elrov.
- Parties now focus on "soundbites" due to shortened public attention spans, a trend starting around 2013.
- Undecided voters are primarily influenced by security concerns, especially preventing future attacks.
- Economic issues have historically been secondary to security in Israeli politics.
- Modern social media tools could be used to convey policy messages more effectively.
The traditional election platform has largely disappeared, replaced by the dominance of social media, particularly TikTok, according to former Knesset Member Eitan Cabel and communications advisor Itzik Elrov. Speaking on 103FM, they discussed the decline of detailed party platforms and the increasing influence of short, impactful messages on undecided voters.
Elrov traced this shift back to the 2013 elections, when the Likud party reportedly stopped publishing a platform. He noted that in earlier times, parties would engage serious content creators to develop in-depth plans for issues like transportation, housing, cost of living, and security. Prime Minister Netanyahu, he suggested, recognized that public attention spans had shortened, making "soundbites" more effective in swaying voters. This led to a decline in content quality and public demand for detailed policy proposals.
Cabel agreed, stating that the importance of election platforms has significantly diminished over the past two decades. He described platforms as once being central to political discourse, though he acknowledged that economic issues, except for a brief period around 1992, have rarely been the primary focus. Cabel lamented that economic concerns are often sidelined by security matters, a trend exacerbated since the October 7th attacks. He suggested that modern tools like TikTok and Instagram could be used to convey policy messages more effectively.
Elrov highlighted that in the current political climate, the decision for undecided voters often comes down to security concerns. While many agree on issues like conscription and cost of living, the ultimate vote may hinge on which candidate or party can best assure voters that a repeat of the October 7th failures will be prevented. Cabel added that the key swing voters are typically those with four to ten seats at stake, along with first-time voters, who are more receptive to discussions about security and the perceived failures of the current government, including the lack of an inquiry committee into October 7th and the controversial draft exemption law.
