The internet is an amazing resource for information and communication that transcends many traditional obstacles to political activity, such as age, location, and income. Today college students, who may not have the financial means for the latest computer and internet services, now have internet access through their college or universities. However, when it comes to using the internet for political purposes, as an advocate, activist, political staffer, elected official, or political researcher you need more than simple searching methods to help you succeed.

Two important considerations to remember when using the internet:

 

~Be critical of the information you get online.

Learn to become a discriminating, critical internet user. When it comes to using the internet as a resource in your political or advocacy career, remember - nothing matters more than your credibility! Relying on, or giving someone else bad information is one of the surest ways to nip your political career in the bud!

~The power of the web lies in learning to use the tools available online

Using the internet for political change requires moving beyond the ability to type something into a search engine. The potential and the power of the web lies in learning how to use the tools that are online to reach your legislators, fellow advocates, possible supporters, and the media.

 

Becoming a discriminating, critical, internet user

What should you consider when evaluating the information you find online? Whether you're doing internet research for a class, looking for activist information, or finding the answer to a political question, here are some basic guidelines:

1. Keep in mind that Altavista, Google, Yahoo, and similar search engines exist to make a profit. They will not evaluate the validity or worth of the information presented. Some search engines rank sites based on how much the web site pays them or the number of times people visit the site.

2. Check out the Authorship of the site

•Is the page signed? Do you know who the author is?
•Is contact information, like an e-mail link, posted on the site?
•Is the author someone with expertise in this area/subject?
•Where can you get more information about the author?

3. Figure out who's Publishing the site

•Regardless of who the author might be, who posted this stuff online? Can you tell what organization or company is hosting this web site? If not, go to www.internic.net and do a "whois" search for the domain host.
•Does the identity of the author and/or publisher give hints as to the bias of the information? (e.g., www.aclu.org or www.nra.org )
•If you can't tell who is responsible for the site, what does that tell you about the potential motive for hosting the site?

4. Check to see if the Information is Current

•Is there a "last updated" note on the page? Does it seem reliable?
•Check out the dates of the materials referred to on the page.
•You can also go to View> page source (on Netscape) or View> source (on explorer) to look for clues in the page code about the last modification date.

5. Beware of the Personal Home Page! Anyone can create a web page these days. Personal pages are probably only to be relied on in a situation where you would rely on a personal interview with the author. Look for "~" in a university hosted website, or advertisements from register.com, geocities.com, or other companies that offer a paid service to post personal web sites.

 

Using the internet for Political Change

In addition to providing access to information, the internet can also serve as an arena for change which is available to everyone from elites and elected officials to non-profit organizations and grassroots movements.

When using the web as a tool for political change, here are some things to consider:

1. What will the web site let you do?

•Can I contact a political official? Some sites will let you send an email directly to your legislator on certain issues.
•How can I make my voice and opinion heard? Some sites use the web to mobilize a virtual community through polling. Other sites offer online petitions on various issues for you to sign.

2. What can you learn from the site?

•Learn who to contact: Many government sites offer email directories of elected officials.
•Learn about the issues: If you really want to learn about an issue, take a look not only at sites that support your position - but also those from the "other side". Oppositional research can help you learn more about an issue, and help you refine your strategies as you see what the opposition is up to.
•Online updates: Many activists organizations keep alert lists and listserves, which will keep you informed on the issues and activities of that organization.
•Learn how to organize: Many youth oriented action sites provide "tool kits" and other resources to help you organize social and political activism in your school or community.