The race to win supporters for the federal election is on, and politicians have been campaigning across the country.
But this time, online platforms may be just as important as physical ones.
Many candidates have been taking to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram to connect with voters.
Rhiannon Elston reports.
If the federal election was won or lost on social media, some say it would be easy to pick a winner.
Stephanie Fabjancic is a student at the University of New South Wales.
She says she follows politicians from both parties on various social media accounts.
"I can't say I really like Kevin Rudd, but he has done a really good job with social media. I think it's just talking at a level with young people."
The Labor leader mixes posts about policy with more lighthearted updates about the family cat, for example, or a picture of his most recent shaving cut.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott sticks to more conventional topics, such as meeting members of the public and updates from the campaign trail.
Thomas Tudehope is a former advisor to Malcolm Turnbull.
He says the Coalition knows what it's doing online.
"I think the Liberals do some thigns better than Labor and Labor do some things better than the Coalition. So it's fairly even, but I think what people are looking for, they are looking for genuine information. I think shaving selfies and smiling photos are good and they add personality and they add colour, but social media is an information platform. People want to share genuine information and they want to find out facts."
Shaving cuts or real information aside, there's no hard evidence as to whether a strong social media presence makes a difference on polling day, and social media strategist Kate Carruthers says no Australian politician is really getting it right.
"The real point of social media is engagement, and getting people to do what you want, whatever that action is. What they could do better is get a time machine, go back about 18 months and start on-the-ground organising like the Obama campaign did."
In social media circles, the successful Obama campaign is often held up as the gold standard for online campaigning, effective because of the way it encourages people to become active campaigners, a voice in their community or even financial supporters.
The Labor Party has even flown in advisers that worked on United States President Barack Obama's campaign - but some say it's too late.
But while social media involvement gives politicians a way to speak directly to voters, it also means when something goes wrong, chances are, everyone's going to see it.
Just about anyone who has a mobile phone can capture policy stumbles, and angry rants - and these can become fuel for political rivals.
