High Point, NC - For a viewing party of the one-and-only vice presidential debate, you may expect hundreds to show but at High Point University, there was only 50 students in the crowd. But that number is exponentially greater if you measure those 50 people by the number of Facebook and Twitter followers they have.
Students used that to their advantage, using social media to reach several hundred others to get their message across.
"College students, historically, they don't get involved, they don't vote, which is very sad and I think through this project and through clubs like mine, politics club, we've really been able to show them that politics can be relatable," said Mikhaela Ackerman, HPU Student.
They're relating through social media and spreading their views on the vice-presidential debate to the masses. Facebook is their chosen platform and instead of bashing the candidates or giving their own political beliefs, the students are talking about the issues.
Whether its trouble in the Middle East, or the economy, they hope their friends will pay attention to what's showing up in their mini-feed.
"I think that a lot of people who don't really care or aren't really into politics, they just want the gist of it, and you know, if you're somebody that they're like, oh, they're intelligent, I'll listen to their opinion," said Sarah Martin, HPU student.
"You know if it's coming from a friends perspective, it's real, and it's not something they're being told to say, it's how they actually feel about an issue and I think that shows far greater than any page that you like that comes from a professional," said Kyle Berube, HPU Student.
"They're more likely to comment and say, ok this is what I think, and involve themselves in the political discussion," said Ackerman.
The goal of the Facebook campaign is to energize and inform voters. But its political season and everyone has an opinion.
Before the debate, the students say they were 50-50 on the two candidates but after the debate, there were a few undecided voters.
WFMY News 2