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SINN FÉIN HAS launched a new campaign to recruit online activists in a bid to enhance its presence and spread its message on social media.
The party’s Sinn Féin Online Supporter page is asking users to join the campaign to “reshape politics in Ireland and in doing so usher in an era of radical change that puts the interest of our citizens at the heart of all we do”.
Sinn Féin acknowledges the transformative effect that the internet and sites like Facebook and Twitter have had on politics globally and in Ireland.
The page’s logo is particularly striking, encouraging users to ‘be part of the digital rising’:
“Never before has there been so many ways that you can help influence and make change happen through this global online community we live in. Thousands of people from every walk of life have already signed up from across Ireland and beyond to become Online Supporters for Sinn Féin,” the blurb says.
Those who sign-up are asked to provide an email and their constituency. They are able to link their Facebook and Twitter accounts with Sinn Féin’s and are also invited to share their age, address and other contact details.
They will receive email updates and be encouraged to share the party’s messages on their own social media pages.
A spokesperson explained that those who sign-up would not be full party members but would be classed as ‘online supporters’, saying:
We’re directing it at our support base, the idea is that they would take our social media stuff, our online message, and share it across their platforms and get our message out further and wider.
They added it would also focus on people who would support Sinn Féin but would not have the time to help out canvassing or distributing leaflets.
“They have young families and don’t want to canvass but maybe when they put the kids to bed, they open up their laptop and have a look online and get the message out as far as possible on social media,” the spokesperson added.
Sinn Féin already has a particularly strong presence on social media with its official account having more followers than any other party. Leading figures like Gerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonald and Martin McGuinness are prolific Twitter users.
Adams’s Twitter account, which has nearly three times as many followers as any other party leader, has become particularly famous in recent years.
Party supporters are also among the most active on social media.
Although a recent study found that its supporters are less likely to use Twitter than other party supporters.
But Sinn Féin has also faced criticism for having so-called ‘keyboard warriors’ who have attacked abuse victim Máiria Cahill online.
It’s also had a number of recent controversies on Facebook with one of its councillor’s complaining he was bullied by another member on Facebook. Another councillor was criticised this week for referring to the people who run Irish rugby as ‘West Brits’.
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It must be…..Hugh.
They already have it. It’s called the journal
I like guessing the author from the headline.Im usually spot on for Hughs.He’s like a little Blueshirt energiser bunny…..I like to think of him as Endas personal Rampaging Rabbit….
So reporting that a political party wants to recruit online warriors is what? Wrong???
Congratulations to “For Connolly” on his/her new initiative.
The Right2Water-Right2Change initiative is citizen led. SF is merely one of the parties who are part of the umbrella group
There is gonna be smoke coming out of your keyboard trying to keep up with all of us now Dermo, LOL – Want to send out for a second pizza tonight, you are gonna be here for a while.
A dozen shinnerbots with multiple accounts spamming the comments section of every news website is not “citizen lead”.
Putin would be proud.
I’d say the FG fraperoom management is bullin’ it didn’t come up with the idea to enlist the public.Although those working there must be breathing a sigh of relief that they’ll still get a paycheck the end of the month.A little advise.. Don’t spend it all in one go, you’re gonna need it once the election is over.
I don’t know why For Connolly is on this thread backing Sinn Fein, he even stated he won’t be voting for them.
I’ve seen it all now, the ultimate troll who sets out to destroy any comment section on this sight relating to its two obsessions of SF and immigration talks about others spamming sites. The monkey must be drunk well tonight!
*drunk early
@ James: Please post a link to any comment where I have stated anything other than I would be giving PBP my first and SF my second preference vote…
Ta
Dermo,SF’s new site is something you can bring up at ukip’s next phone box meeting or have you gone back to the tuv?
http://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-cork-east-5-2336066-Sep2015/ There you go FC. You stated you won’t vote for Sinn Fein in the General Election.
FOOTSOLDIERS……..CALLING ALL FOOTSOLDIERS
Comical stuff in fairness….
Cheers for posting a link backing up my position James. The SF candidate in my constituency will tapdance into the Dail, so my first preference is going to the other excellent public rep running, PBPs Gino Kenny
So you are admitting your not giving Sinn Fein your 1st preference vote. I’m glad that’s cleared up.
I don’t need to. Eoin O’Broin is Dailbound, my focus is putting Gino Kenny in there with h, along with other Right2Change friendly candidates.
hmmmm I wonder what hugh boy is attempting to distract and deflect us from today with this click bait? ??
@ Diarmuid, from all the lads in the FG debacle camp. https://www.google.ie/search?q=pictures+of+gorillas&biw=601&bih=962&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CEAQ7AlqFQoTCKC4-aS1kMgCFSNZ2woduvsNPg#imgrc=_mCBecumODONjM%3A
Well why not.. Social media seems to be the only way to get your message across seeing as how manipulate, bias, cynical established media outlets can be in this country
Correct SN. The anti-water charge movement would not have happened to the scale it did without social media
Social media is one thing. The followers of one party spamming the comments sections of news sites is another.
Can the shinnerbots just a elect one spokesperson to give us our daily dose of deflection and lies?
LOL….that’s hilarious Diarmuid….coming from you!
Is that like turning every article relating to the governments sleveenism and ineptitude into a ‘noun-verb-SF’ fest??
Oh diarmuid, your antishinner hat is slipping again.
Nah… I say good and bad things about the government.
Unlike you shinnertrolls, I don’t support a political party like it’s a cult / soccer team.
What’s two plus two??? SINN FEIN!!!
5…. according to Sinn Féin. Lols!
TBH Diarmuid…I’ve never seen you post anything bad about the FG.
To be fair to dermo he did post that he doesn’t believe inda aobut sacking the Garda commissioner.
However, that also means he’s fine with the law being broken, depending on who he thinks broke it.
FC don’t make me laugh. You once said it’s a person’s right to break the law. Remember that?
Just in case you forgot For Connolly/Were Jammin. http://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-says-no-woman-face-injured-2045930-Apr2015/
Linky linky spoofer….
I said that people can break the law as long as they are prepared to accept the consequences. Happens all the time, hence the need for prisons.
Apologies, link didn’t show properly for me.
Please read the link guys. MLK broke the law and was willing to face the consequences as that law was unjust.
Ah so you are Were Jammin. Should you not be banned from this site then?
I’m also Batman, the Sugar Puffs honey monster and the water fairy.
Well why not, yfg,yl,and yff already have their fair share of keyboard warriors. I would like to see these (all sides) posters having the conviction to post under their real names.
I know, it annoys me that people haven’t the courage of their convictions to comment with their real name. It’s just a licence to post any old shite without accountability
Yeah it’s truly shocking, we should take ‘em out back and kneecap them.
Some of us want to keep our cushy well-paid jobs and be able to walk down the street without getting knickers thrown at us, Stephen.
I love the danger of commenting under my real name, Uncle Monty. It’s the most exxcitement I get, knowing every comment I send is a potential pathway to disgrace
Mike, please bear in mind that there are commented on here who for a myriad of reasons cannot use their real names. There are guards, soldiers, civil servants etc. providing useful input and information who would be effectively ending their careers if they used their real names.
…. then there are disingenuous anonymous shinnertrolls…
Well Stephen, as children will do what you do and not what you say, I teach my children to be safe online….so I practice what I preach. Just saying. I only have the one FB account anyway.
Jesus no. Add some stimulants and I would be out of a job in a week. I would feel like a bird whose wings have been clipped if I had to post under my real name…
Hahaha… coming from you diarmuid,that is pure classic.
You’re my favourite anonymous poster, Uncle Monty
And some day you WILL play the Dane, I can feel it
*blushes*
Oh dear, we already have a Shinner army of journal commenters, will there be even more now?
Lol… Just…lol, lol, lol……
Can the Shinners do ANYTHING without having to refer to the rising? Even the hand holding the phone in the poster looks like it could be a grenade about to be thrown. They really are the gift that keeps on giving.
The saps are rising
Above is four reasons to be proactive.
*are.
Will be banned if Labour have their greedy way.
They need to be audited before letting them loose.
Labour, FF and FG appear to have keyboard warriors battling on comments sections and forums. While they don’t blatantly have a party logo in their profile pictures (*ahem* AAA), their affiliation is usually obvious. Ironically, they are usually the ones claiming somebody is a ‘shinnerbot’.
FG have 30 full time staff for their online activities http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/03/07/fine-gaels-frape-room/
Party drones can be irksome, but Shinners are especially belligerent.
I find most of the vicious, hate filled comments emanate from those who despise SF. Always a made up account.
Deary me. This merits an article?
Well….it is interesting don’t you think for a party to ask outright for ‘keyboard warriors’.
It’ll give the FG Frape room a run for it’s money…. http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/03/07/fine-gaels-frape-room/
More Shinnerbots just what we need.
I can see from the red v green hands, Shinnerbots are already 2:1 and they are looking for more.
Or maybe ROS….that’s public opinion atm.
Al I know they are doing well but at 2:1 that means they are 66% in the polls, that’s not the number I heard on the news this evening.
From now to the election I’ll be promoting the new Right2Water-Right2Change mass movement. Hugely exciting while at the same time promoting the parties involved in the movement, namely PBP-AAA-SF, think that SD are also on board, plus out brilliant left leaning independents. But best of luck to SF, they’re doing some brilliant work on the ground
A nation holds it breath :)
Probably not a good idea to refer to the Social Democrats as the SD…. FG probably hold the copyright….
Thank you for the Public Broadcast Shinnerbot.
Nobody cares.
It will be interesting to see if their online spear carriers will be as insulting and abusive as are the government on-line warriors who employ gratuitous insults and derogatory labelling as a matter of course.
Middle digit rising.
Great idea,the most progressive party in the country takes another step forward.We’ve tried all the others,Sinn Fein and s.d’s are the only way forward for this country.Admitted they have a few bogies in their ranks but couldn’t possibly outmatch f/g labour in terms of corruption and lack of empathy with the people they claim to represent.Big shock coming in the G.e if the German maiden calls it early.
The Scientology of Irish politics is at it again.
Shinnerism will be declared a religion so they can claim tax exempt status.
Maybe they can move to Malta and avoi…..
Sorry, wrong party.
There’s a wave to be rode. Guess who owns the surfboard?
**Turns off “Show Comments” option in Journal app**
Funny wee maaan is our gerry!
Let them tidy up their own house first before trying to sort out the rest of the country – the former will take a generation
share their age, address and other contact details. nice covert way of gathering Intel, I would not give sf the time of day.
is it where we hit the British with a DDOS attack?
Progressive, I like.
I find this CHILLING
They are only doing this now?
21st century version of the bar stool republican.
More people to throw insults at Mairia Cahill.
Some brainwave from MI5.
Thier new iBomb app is top of iTunes at present.
*Their
On line Sufferers more likely
Its great to see,10 years time they be in power,maybe less,must sign up,tal
Will they be tutored how to engage properly in social media or will they just be more on line abusers like Brian former FF
have your say