Twitter and political communication

This article presents an overview of research about of Twitter in the field of political communication and also analyzes the main theoretical trends. It explores the development of the scientific research into Twitter, initiated after its appearance in 2006, and considers three main areas: first, the use of Twitter by political users (politicians, parties, media, and citizens); second, political debate on Twitter and its effects; and third, the innovations of strategy and use during electoral campaigns. Finally, some final considerations in this article highlight spaces to deepen the academic development of Twitter in relation to political communication.