Voicing Your Vote with Social Media

Election days are not what they used to be. In the past, families would sit around their television tracking the votes anxiously awaiting for the results to be revealed. Now, people can keep track of election day and the current mid-term election whenever they want, however they want, with the use of Social Media.


According to Lost Remote there is a growing list of different social media sites that will be covering the election. Of course many of the news organizations such as ABC news and CBS news will be covering election day through their own unique ways. ABC news is going as far as streaming live coverage on Facebook with live reports. They will also be streaming on Hulu, mobile platforms, and Yahoo beginning at 7pm.


Speaking of Facebook, they have posted a huge module throughout the entire day on top of user's (18 and older) wall page with a polling place locator. You can click on the "I Voted" tab, and it will be added to their tally of votes. It even shows you which friends of yours have voted. Not only does this encourage more people to get out there and vote, it stimulates relationships and discussions amongst Americans and other voters via social media.

These excellent uses of social media on election day is a great way to keep people informed and involved. It also unites Americans on a day where showing patriotism for America is in high importance. The mid-term elections this year are a huge deal concerning the state of the economy and the country. People are desperate to see improvement through these politicians, and with millions and millions of social media users, what better way for people to get their voices out than through these social media sites?


One last great way social media takes advantage of this Election Day is to encourage people to not just discuss their opinions on these sites, but to vote as well. Facebook updates and new tweets will be reminding people all day long to stop what they're doing, and VOTE! So all of you Facebook users and Tweeters...encourage your followers, friends, and fans to help make a difference this election day! It's the fastest way to voice your vote. 


-Kayleigh Hayes

Human Trafficking Hits Home

On October 20, 2010 deputies stated that a Ft. Myers Woman had turned her children into prostitutes and beat and starved them if they did not buy her drugs. Reports say that she beat the four young girls with a hammer, wire hangers, a belt and even urinated on them. "The data that I've been trained on suggests that domestic minor sex trafficking is probably the largest problem in America today," said Det. Mike Zaleski of the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Nola Theiss, Founder and Executive Director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships reports that 1% of the children are kidnapped, while 30% are trafficked by family members. The Polaris Project, a non-profit anti-trafficking organization in Washington, DC stated that according to the U.S. Dept. of State's 2007 Trafficking in persons Report, approximately 27 million people are victims of modern-day slavery around the world.

Human trafficking is something that most Americans do not realize is such a big issue, but it is becoming an increasing problem in our own neighborhoods. "It's a terrible term, but common in trade," said Lt. Mike Eson, of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. This is a growing epidemic that needs to be acknowledged by the U.S. government. Action must take place within our communities.

Please join Be Her Freedom, an initiative against human trafficking in order to raise awareness, bring solutions and make a united stand against the unacceptable crime of human trafficking. You can help by participating this Saturday, November 6 in Jacksonville for their 5-mile run or 1-mile walk beginning at 7:30 a.m. for the run and 7:45 a.m. for the walk. Registration will begin at 6 a.m.





-Martina Marcuccilli