Social media users don't like Cameron

Cameron is disliked by those using social media

The Twittering classes didn't like David Cameron before, during or after the 2010 general election and took a dim view of a hung parliament, according to statistics released by a company monitoring social media conversation trends.

Alterian used its SM2 social monitoring tool to examine more than 500,000 conversations across various social media platforms, providing volume and sentiment analysis of the main political leaders over the course of the election.

In the 224,139 conversations tracked from 26 February to 14 April, Gordon Brown enjoyed an overwhelming volume percentage of conversations – 70 per cent – as would be expected of the incumbent. David Cameron received a volume of 24 per cent, with Nick Clegg bagging six per cent in the same period.

Cameron had the highest percentage of negative conversations, checking in at almost 17 per cent of all conversations being classified as negative. Brown clocked just 13 per cent of negative conversations and Clegg even less.

Between 15 April and 5 May, 190,996 conversations were tracked, with the daily rate doubling, driven by the TV debates. Clegg’s volume of mentions increased to more than 23 per cent of conversations. Cameron edged up to 28 per cent and Brown's share shrank considerably to 49 per cent. During this period each candidate saw their percentage of positive conversations rise.

More than 18 per cent of Clegg's mentions were positive compared with 15 per cent which were negative. Cameron received virtually the same amount of positive and negative mentions during this period. Brown only received positive growth of one per cent but this period also contained "bigotgate".

From 6 to 11 May, SM2 tracked more than 97,235 conversations, with the daily number again more than doubling. Clegg's mentions remained constant at 23 per cent, Cameron’s increased to 29 per cent and Brown's edged down to 47 per cent.

Cameron’s negative sentiment increased to 18 per cent and negative sentiment for Clegg also grew. The term "hung" featured more prominently in negative conversations than in positive.

“There is no doubt that social media played a key part in driving conversations and gathering support,” said David Eldridge, chief executive of Alterian. “While the candidates predominantly used traditional media to drive their messages, the electorate has shown the importance of social media as a means of engagement.”