Social media sets election day records, damages friendships | News

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS)- Election Day proved to be historic for social media, shattering records of all kinds on twitter and facebook.

However, all that social integration may have broken up a number of friendships too.
There were political rants, excitement, melt downs, drama, venting, and frustrations involved.

And some posts apparently were taken too personally.

"I mean I could see somebody wanting to release some stress," said Ethan Huber of Jackson. "I'll be honest, I said a few things."

Some spoke of riots, and many used bad language.

"I saw a status that said that people have been posting status using the n-word," said Brittney Griffith of Cape Girardeau.  "Which, is, probably the worst thing I've seen."

Even others used their status to announce they'd be deleting friendships in cyber space.

People say some need to think before they post.

"Facebook is a disconnected relationship, because you can post anything you want," said Griffith. "It's your opinion only."

Others did try to mediate, saying as a nation it's try to move on.

"This country is torn apart and I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon," said Huber.     

One thing's for sure, it appears social media is here to stay.

"It's good to see people care, even though I think some of the comments are ignorant," said Maurice Burns, a Southeast Missouri State University student. "I think ignorance is better than apathy."

Just like the issues people say social media definitely has two sides, splitting us apart and bringing us together.

"I think it's been a good thing," said Andrew Eftink of Leopold, "A lot of people get to express their opinions and makes it easier to talk about it."

We may never know how many of you lost friends, but we do know according to twitter Election Day became the most tweeted about event in us political history.

Meanwhile on facebook, the top ten terms included: Vote, Obama, Romney, election and president.

There were 8.3 million people who also used their status to say they voted.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.