The moment the last of the polls closed, Canadians began posting rants about the outcome, almost overcompensating for the nation’s ban on social media posts while the votes were still coming in.
The letting out of pent-up desire to post makes more sense when you compare how Facebookers in the U.S. — and other countries besides Canada — have posted their votes on the social network.
While Elections Canada’s ban on individuals Facebooking and Tweeting results ahead of the polls closure seems to have worked — people kept things off social media and more western Canadians made it to the polls — but an early leak came from the Canadian Broadcasting Company, of all places.
You’d think that CBC would have known better, but now the newscaster will have to pay a hefty fine. Perhaps Elections Canada might warn news organizations anew during the months or weeks preceding the next vote.
While we’re talking about what Elections Canada might do for the next vote, why isn’t the entity pushing mail-in ballots as a way to encourage more voting?
Readers, did you notice any of your Canadian friends start posting on Facebook the moment the last polls closed?
Source: All Facebook
Tuesday, May 3, 2011