Lynn University Students More Likely to Vote Based on Social Media Connections, AT&T Survey Reveals

DALLAS, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media and mobile Internet play an essential role in engaging America's college students, and an AT&T* survey shows 79 percent of Lynn University students are more likely to vote in November because they follow a presidential candidate on Twitter or Facebook.

The AT&T 2012 Survey: Mobile America's Student Vote also reveals Lynn students are not only willing to participate in political discourse via social media outlets; 58 percent of those surveyed would use smartphones to cast their ballot if "mobile voting" were available. 

"Mobile technology is an innate aspect of students' lives, and their ideas can now be part of the virtual discussion in real time," said John Irwin, Senior Vice President of AT&T Public Sectors and Healthcare. "Younger generations thrive as they comment or post at the moment things happen, and mobile Internet is providing more opportunities to participate regardless of where debate watch parties may be."  

AT&T 2012 Survey: Mobile America's Student Vote

• 87 percent of those polled believe it is either "Somewhat important" or "Very important" to discuss political or public issues via social media.
• 93 percent of the students surveyed said it is important candidates use social media to connect with the public.
• 85 percent of those surveyed use their mobile phones to check Twitter or Facebook.
• A combined 60 percent of students said political messages on social media outlets (40%) or online news sites like (20%) – are most likely to earn their attention.
• Demographics: 272 students surveyed, mostly undergraduate students (92%) between the ages of 18-23 years old (88%).

The AT&T 2012 Survey: Mobile America's Student Vote was conducted by 25 Lynn University undergraduate students enrolled in "Campaigns in the 21^st Century," a class led by Assistant Professor Stephanie Jackson.

"The Lynn community thrives on experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom," said Professor Jackson. "This survey allowed students to apply their vast understanding of mobile technology and social media to offer deeper insight into the current political environment."

As the campus prepares to host the last presidential debate on Oct. 22, Lynn University students are expected to be highly active online, using mobile Internet to upload pictures, videos and status updates across social media networks.

AT&T is also beefing up its network on campus with an onsite Cell on Wheels – or COW – and an antenna system installed to boost mobile Internet coverage and capacity.

Study Methodology

The AT&T 2012 Survey: Mobile America's Student Vote is based on in-person surveys of 272 Lynn University undergraduate and graduate students in Boca Raton, Florida. The survey was conducted by Lynn University Assistant Professor Stephanie Jackson and 25 of her students enrolled in the "Campaigns in the 21^st Century" course, using 10 AT&T Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablets to collect responses with the ProntoForms™ from AT&T mobile app.    

Surveys were obtained from September 20-27, 2012.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

^™ ProntoForms is a trademark of TrueContext Corporation.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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About Lynn University

Lynn University, site of the final 2012 presidential debate to be held on Oct. 22, 2012, is an independent, co-ed, residential university offering an innovative undergraduate and graduate curriculum built on individualized attention and an international focus. Founded in 1962, we're an emerging higher education institution preparing to celebrate our 50th anniversary and hosting the final 2012 presidential debate is the perfect way to show the world what Lynn is all about. The university currently enrolls more than 2,000 students representing nearly all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 nations in five academic colleges and three specialty programs. Visit Lynn's debate website, debate2012.lynn.edu, for more information on Lynn debate-related news and events.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.