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Social Media Networks Gear Up for Presidential Debates

Social media networks gear up for presidential debates. Sites plan to offer live streams and engage users.

It's not just the candidates polishing up their A-game for next month's presidential debates. Now that social media has become such an integral part of our daily lives, they, too, hope to cash in on their influence.

Yahoo, AOL and YouTube are teaming up with the Commission on Presidential Debates for "The Voice Of," a campaign that will allow the public to watch the debates live and engage in conversations with other viewers. Microsoft is also launching Xbox LIVE Election, which will offer subscribers in the U.S. a raw feed of the debates with the added bonus of on-the-spot surveys and polls. Viewers will be able to answer multiple choice questions, give their reactions to what candidates are saying and see what others are saying as well.

"We want to deliver a more engaging political experience, and we have the power of the console to do it," Xbox spokesman Jose Pinero told Politico. "The crown jewel for doing that is the first live, interactive presidential debate."

Facebook is not one to stay behind on the race. The social media giant will offer three-and-a-half hours of live coverage on Oct. 3 through Facebook Live and conduct interviews with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). To get discussions going, an interactive element will allow users to submit questions for the politicians. No word on whether they'll be doing the same for the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Will you be tuning in to next month's debates via television or social media? Have you been keeping up with the issues being presented as we head into this year's elections? Be sure to check out BET.com on the following nights as we live stream the presidential and vice-presidential debates.

October 3, 2012                President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney         

Topic: Domestic policy

Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado

Moderator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS)

October 11, 2012              Vice President Joe Biden and Paul Ryan                

Topic: Foreign and domestic policy

Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky

Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

October 16, 2012              President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney         

Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy

Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York

Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)

October 22, 2012              President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney         

Topic: Foreign policy

Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida

Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)

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(Photo: RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/GettyImages)

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