More than half of internet users in the UK are unable to name their local MP, according to a study conducted by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR). KableNet.com reports that the internet has failed to initiate public interest in politics.
Based on an NOP survey, the study also found that only 69 percent of internet users know the party of their MP, and less than 2 percent have visited their representative’s personal web site.
Dr. Stephen Ward of the Oxford Internet Institute, who conducted the research, believes the survey is an “antidote to the hype that often surrounds the role of the internet in the political world.” Still, Ward thinks the internet has potential to be an effective political tool if used correctly.
“Simply adding new electronic means of communication to old structures, or providing information online, will not automatically spark interest,” said Ward. “Politicians and institutions need to actively attract people outside the usual suspects by demonstrating that their contribution is valued and listened to.”