Review: Obama's Inauguration Online & the Web 2.0 Generation, a Partisan Party

If you were in any doubt about which demographic tipped the win for Obama, the online coverage of his big day held a pretty hefty clue.

For anyone who was in front of their PC, surfing the news, it was apparently hard to tear away from the live video coverage, complete with scrolling user comments, of the inauguration day celebrations for the new American president.

For those of us watching on the telly, and I was, as well as online, we had the pomp, the ceremony and the cheering crowds, plus the reporters and pundits.

Online, there was a whole new dimension. Live chat.

CNN.com teamed up with Facebook, offering viewers the chance not only to watch the proceedings, but also to comment live with their friends, else the entire Facebook community, all in one browser window. Apparently, over 600,000 comments were published. On services like Twitter, essentially a slimmed down Facebook with constant chat and links, the chatting was not disimilar, but with users having another browser tab or three open to see the pictures with their preferred news video service.

Web-wide, the millions of comments overall, was telling.

Hey, I didn’t read them all. This review doesn’t go that far. But I read hundreds (and published quite a few.) Of those, I read maybe three that were somehow anti-Obama, and maybe one that felt sorry for Bush.

The other 99%, probama.

There are a few reasons for this. Natural political fatigue of the last administration, and the fact that heavy-dose Republicans were down the pub, may be two good ones. Then, best not to omit, there’s this overwhelming sense of expectation, a couple of US wars being waged, the global economy down the pan, and most wondering what’s in store for 2009 and beyond.

But those important factors still don’t account for the heavy partisan tilt. Especially, they don’t account for the shower of emotion waved online, whether for Obama or against Bush.

In case you missed it, here’s a clutch from the Facebook/CNN feed which is going on, still, as I write, as Barack and Michelle take to the floor, dancing at one of the inaugural balls. Sense this emotion…

• TC wants to know how many Red Bulls he has had today!
• KL loves to see the Obama’s dancing together. They seem so happy.
• MF is in awe of Pres. & 1st Lady Obama party hopping.
• MC is dancin as well…
• JP Obama and Michelle always look so great together and they really mean their love. It’s great.
• DW is like glued to the T.V.
• VT OMG How many times does he want to DANCE?
• KM feels warm inside .

Now compare that to this, just as the former president left the White House, for the last time as commander-in-chief…

• JS bush is GONE
• FJ YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES
• AK back to tx, ex
• DS the president has left the building
• CM is ruined this country glad to see the back of him
• EL is like glued to the T.V.
• SP is happy that it’s a new day: “it’s morning in America” 2008. Let’s get to work!
• CH 8 loooooooooooooong years

These people, and millions like them, won Obama the election.

Who?

Hey, it’s the Web 2.0 generation, stupid! (And Obama’s got most of it linked up on that Blackberry…)

What do you think? Let me know. I’d like to hear.