Abstract Since the public opinion has always been a major concern in politics, political leaders tend to rely on semantics to sway the public opinion to their side. Politicians have created an art of using semantics, developing strategies and employing techniques to gain the support of their masses. However, political leaders, individuals and groups hoping to influence the political ideology of the masses have found that their political semantics is no longer limited to the critical analysis of media consultants and commentators; the masses themselves engage in the analysis as facilitated by the internet. This study focuses on the techniques deployed, the effect made and the role of the internet which provides the public with information, discourse and the chance to share ideas with other users to interpret what their politicians really say.