Data checked on 11 May from measurement firm BrandData, throws up some spectacularly interesting results around politicians on social media and will no doubt be shaping much of the social media political campaigning as we zoom towards the 2 July federal election.
Coming top on BrandData’s list of most active Australian politicians is Kevin Rudd, who tops the list, dominating in first and second place on Twitter and YouTube, respectively.
More confusing is the placing of former PM Julia Gillard who comes in second on Twitter (despite only tweeting once throughout April and generally once a week otherwise), third place on Facebook and fourth place on YouTube.
Another former PM, Tony Abbott, is still yet to leave the building and coming first place on Facebook – yes, that’s right - which leaves him in solid third place overall. He also ranks third on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Turnbull, in fourth place overall behind the unholy trinity of former PMs, has first ranking on both Instagram - where he is often seen pictured with children and dogs (see above) - and YouTube, is second on Facebook and fourth on Twitter.
Meanwhile Bill Shorten, who also has a penchant for a snap with man’s best friend, really does pull up short at number six behind Julie Bishop.
This data does however warrant one final and quite obvious note. In politics, winning on social media is not necessarily the same as winning. Coming first or indeed second, third, fourth or fifth does not equal success and adoration; quite the opposite.
Politicians will no doubt be wary of their rankings for social media.
We’re not entirely sure that Tony Abbott lurking around in third place is indicative of there being an audience wanting him back in the hot seat, and that’s putting it politely.
BrandData calculates a list of the most active politicans online by taking direct feeds from social channels and pitting one person against another.
Among a host of different metrics, it analyses ‘enagagement events’ such as likes to a Facebook page; posts to a Facebook wall; the Alexa seven day reach rank for a brand/person’s website; followers on an Instagram channel; status posts to a Twitter feed; number and frequency of videos posted to a YouTube account etc.
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