HOW DIGITAL MARKETING IS BEING USED IN PNG POLITICS

The short answer is yes, ever since Facebook took Papua New Guinea by storm around 2012 more people are aware of what’s being written on blogs and websites, because information gets shared through emails or messenger.

In Papua New Guinea, articles are advertised on Facebook and twitter. The content being published are based on politics and socio-economic issues.

The blogs publishing critical articles of politics have gained followers across the country. They have become a hit in PNG and even abroad. The topics on this blogs are highly controversial and draw a lot of debate in the public domain.

This is for good reason, because according to Facebook insight, an analytical tool, most people in the country follow politics.

Papua New Guinea is an interesting country with eight hundred different languages and diverse cultures. Its politics is also another element of surprise to many people who share a common interest in the country.

With the inclusion of Digital marketing communication, politicians’ have also taken a keen interest in publishing articles on blogs and sharing them on social media platforms Facebook and twitter.

Bryan Kramers Facebook blog page 

In todays PNG news, Madang MP Bryan Kramer demonstrates what social media and digital marketing can be used to influence change in society.

His Facebook blog page Kramer Report just reached 100,000 followers, while estimates suggest that around 600,000 people actively use Facebook in Papua New Guinea. 

Mr Kramer's posts has stirred up heated debates over PNG’s government coalition and opposition. He has been able to utilize the platform to gain a lot of popularity for all the good reason, especially fighting corruption.

Some government Ministers think Mr Kramer’s posts are so hurtful. Earlier this year, Communications Minister Sam Basil reported Bryan Kramer when the Madang MP called him a ‘dumb” on a Facebook post.

The biggest set back when using this digital platform is eighty-five present of the economy still live in the rural areas of PNG. Most of them are subsistent famers who don't own mobile phones; hence, most Papua New Guineans don’t know what’s going on.

While, the small number of people are on Facebook, it shows that digital media in PNG is still at its infancy and it has the potential to grow, but, it also means the target audience is a niche. Bloggers will have to compete.