Advocates use social networking for issues

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Advocates on both sides of abortion rights are abandoning traditional methods of contacting supporters in favor of social networking sites, authorities say.

Grassroots organizations such as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws have used sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Twitpic and Flickr to raise awareness of strategies, the Washington publication The Hill reported Friday.

The sites "allows us to go much broader with our message," said Elizabeth Shipp, political director for NARAL. "We can get out there in a much bigger way."

NARAL Pro-Choice America generated a campaign through the social sites that brought 97,000 signatures opposing an anti-abortion amendment sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak D-Mich., The Hill said.

The anti-abortion National Right to Life organization has a Twitter feed with 1,100 members. It also has a blog with 21,000 "friends," The Hill reported.

"What makes this different and where we've seen the growth is with young people," Kristin Koch, NARAL's deputy director of communications and online strategies, said.