If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you already know how important it is for consumers to be able to view videos online. Online videos help sell products because they let consumers have a “virtual test drive” of a product before they buy it. These videos get consumers excited about new products and make them want to learn more about emerging trends. Today, the same is increasingly true of political candidates and issues. Long before votes are cast in November, millions of Americans will participate in the political process by watching videos on the Internet. According to a recent Pew poll, as many as a quarter of adults have already watched political videos online. That number is expected to grow. Perhaps the more exciting news is that the Internet appears to be getting more people involved and informed. The United States has historically had some of lowest voter turnout among developed democracies, and much of this apathy occurs when voters do not feel informed about the issues. It is difficult to “accidentally” read a newspaper or tune into the evening news, but it is quite easy to come across political information online by mistake. More than half of those who reported viewing political videos online said they did not go on the Internet for the purpose of learning about politics. That means the availability of videos online is helping to strengthen participation in the political process.

Aside from political videos, the Internet is also ripe with funny videos we share with our family and friends.

Then you see this charming cartoon you half remember from elementary school, and you learn about a threat to the freedom of the Internet.

Click here to learn more about the threat to the Internet’s viability and freedom.

Tomi Turner works in ERA’s government affairs department

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Tags: Electronic Retailer, ERA, Government Affairs, net neutrality, online videos, pew, political videos, save the internet, tomi turner

This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm and is filed under ERA, Government Affairs, Just for fun..., Online, Research, Retailer, Social Networks, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.