How online data helped skew US election polls in favour of Hillary Clinton
Newly released data from Taykey Intelligence has hinted that the sheer volume of young people online manipulated pollsters in the run up to Donald Trump's odd-defying presidential election triumph.
Young people, who are more likely to vote Hillary, dominated online chat
The company found that 61% of online election conversation was dominated by 18 to 24-year-olds, with 25+ only making up 39% of the share. Clinton was more likely to receive votes from 18 to 44, having been backed by 55 per cent of voters aged under 29.
In addition to the online environment being unrepresentative of the wider US population, less than 25% of the public had an input into this share.
In the month leading up the big vote, the company measured online sentiment – and how it was altered by select events.
Throughout October, five major spikes altered online sentiment, Trump’s infamous sexual assault claim leak, the 3rd debate, Michael Moore’s Trumpland documentary, Hillary’s email scandal and of course, the Trump win, as can be seen below.
Analysis from Taykey Intelligence said: “Millennials dominated the online conversation surrounding the election with adults 18-24 capturing 61% of volume. Perhaps their online vigor in favor of Clinton helped sway pollsters into thinking a Clinton victory was inevitable.”