AI videos and reels dominate election campaigns

KOCHI: New trends and social media are dominating the campaign scene in the upcoming Assembly elections. Along with traditional methods like requests, wall writings, and posters, modern tools such as AI videos, reels, status updates, WhatsApp posters, animated videos, and LED screen vehicles are now widely used.

More than outdoor campaigning in the intense heat, the real battle is happening on social media. It has become the fastest way to reach people using smartphones. Short videos, especially reels ranging from 30 seconds to one-and-a-half minutes, are the most popular. These reels often use catchy background music to attract viewers and quickly grab attention.

PR teams lead campaigns
Campaign activities of candidates are now largely managed by professional PR teams. These teams, along with specialised social media companies, handle accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X for candidates and political parties. Separate teams are also assigned to manage WhatsApp groups and channels. These services come at a high cost. Almost every public activity of a candidate is turned into reels and shared widely.

From visiting religious places to simple moments like drinking water in the heat, everything is turned into social media content. There is also strong competition in live-streaming roadshows and public meetings.

Another growing trend is clothing with election symbols. Mundu and shirts featuring symbols like the hand, hammer and sickle with star, lotus, sickle and paddy, ladder, and pot are selling quickly in the market. Similar shirts are also expected to be launched soon.