In the new millennium following the advent of private news channels, it was television which held a sway over voters and their views. In the past decade internet, aka online news and social media—think Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—are the go-to destinations for voters. In this decade, over 57% of the first-time voters make up their mind based on their engagement on internet and social media.
So, we know what influenced the minds of first-time voters when they voted the first time. What is the medium which influences them today? The responses reveal an interesting slice of the demographic distribution across media platforms. For instance, those who depended on the radio—between the 1950s and the 1990s—have switched to the visual medium and now choose to seek their information from television channels. The others—those who voted first in the past three decades—access their news/information/views from online sources and social media sites.
The exploration of preferences of first-time voters and the evolution of shifting allegiances offers an eloquent chronicle on the interplay of ideas and identities across decades. It is a testament to the persistence of faith in the power of participation for change and illuminates the live miracle in the world’s largest democracy.