Lynn University has spent the last year preparing – mentally and physically – for the third and final presidential debate on Oct. 22. Lynn, a top social media college, was highlighted in Student Advisor's most recent spring 2012 listing for "integrating social media strategy and campaigns to engage students and citizens."
Social media has rapidly become a go-to tool for voters to participate in U.S. presidential elections. Research from Harris Interactive and Digitas shows 62 percent of 18 to 34-year-old Americans get their election information through social networks.
In 2008, 22 percent of social media users used social networks to learn about candidates. Fast forward to the current 2012 presidential election, and we can see the growth of social media and its impact. 51 percent of all social network users will learn about the candidates in the 2012 election through social media.
Lynn recognizes the important role social media will play in the 2012 election and has launched several new platforms to increase online engagement – both on and off campus. Specific to the #lynndebate, Lynn has created a Tumblr blog to archive its debate-related social media interactions. In addition to blogs.lynn.edu, the university is also active on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Flickr and Google+.
As seen in Lynn's most recent video, Big LU, the university's mascot, spent the summer training for the debate on campus and throughout Palm Beach County – all set to the Rocky anthem. As debate preparations continue and the countdown clock ticks away, the excitement on Lynn's campus grows daily.