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In Social Media Era, Debate Watchers Will Have Multiple Screens Going

(CBS) – More than 100 million Americans are expected to watch the presidential debate on television, but that's not the only place they'll be watching.

CBS 2's Marissa Bailey explains why this is the first debate where online viewership just may be as high as television viewership.

Smart phones are just a part of our society, but during a major television event the phone is as much a place to interact as it is a place to see results.

"It's going to be unprecedented. We've never had so many channels to communicate and watch the debate before," says social media expert Mana Ionescu.

She says the average person will watch the debate with 2 to 3 screens in front of them.

"We're probably going to pay very little attention to what's happening on the TV screen itself -- most people are going to watch live on their computers and devices and interact with other people."

Snapchat, which wasn't really even around during the last presidential debate, has already rolled out new filters.

Shea Duvall of Chicago is an example of a multi-tasking debate view.

"My Dad works at a local news station back in Michigan, so him and I usually chat back and forth when something's going on," he says.

Even GrubHub is getting into the debate game. They're tracking opiniond by asking customers which candidate they'll vote for.

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