Social Media Changes Face Of Indian General Elections

Facebook started working on the Indian elections towards the end of last year, says Katie Harbath, manager for Policy at Facebook, adding that the company started doing a series of things beginning March this year when the elections were announced.

This includes launch of election tracker so that people can see in real time. Candidates are now using Facebook and Twitter for breaking news.

"We are really seeing the entire country discuss the issues (related to elections)," Harbarth told PTI in a recent interview.

"Facebook is really the key place of the conversation that is happening," she said.

Adam Sharp, Head of Government and Nonprofits at Twitter, who has been involved in participating in elections in various countries of the world, said Twitter is a powerful way to return to retail politics.

He conceded that elections have helped Twitter expand in India.