Social media are internet-based applications designed to facilitate social interaction and for using, developing and diffusing information through society. After that, be present on accounts that speak to your target market. People use social media as a means to connect with people, share their views, and to know about the happenings around the world.. Social media is a great way to get quick information about what is happening everywhere. For example, Connecting with Communities research found Brisbane City Council created history when they used social media during the Brisbane floods in the summer of 2010/11. Sample Social Media Policies - Institute for Local Government … This 12-step resource, developed with comms2point0, offers top tips and a range of all-new case studies to help local government, and the wider public sector, develop our collective use of social media and take it to a more strategic level. York suggested that politicians and local officials spend at least five hours simply digesting content from the site. Social media platforms are fast-paced networks with the ability to attract a lot of attention in a short amount of time. As social media has evolved, the government is viewing it more as a tool rather than a mandated “e-government” initiative for public service delivery. Almost all UK councils have at least one Twitter and Facebook account now. As social media has evolved, the government is viewing it more as a tool rather than a mandated “e-government” initiative for public service delivery. Social media moderator For every social media success story like President Barack Obama's 2008 grassroots campaign there is another of a career-crippling gaffe, like Weinergate, when New York Rep. Anthony Weiner accidentally tweeted a picture of his crotch.Social media, and particularly Twitter, have become a type of soapbox in America, on which many politicians are able to speak directly to their constituents. For example, Facebook users have fallen since the same report published in 2015, whilst platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat have grown quickly over the past 12-months. Social media is not a fad, it is here to stay. We've seen that Twitter is the preferred platform for many politicians as the micro-blogging service has become a broadcast tool. The Local by Social report commissioned by Local Government Improvement and Delivery is a landmark document. Written by CivicPlus. "If someone wasn't sure if social media was effective in local politics, I would ask them, 'Do you think social media had an effect on the 2016 presidential election?' Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government for Persons with Disabilities Another one of these programs is the U.S. Digital Registry , which is the official resource that agencies, citizens, and developers use to confirm the official status of social media and public-facing collaboration accounts, mobile apps and mobile websites. Government communicators are vital, especially in unprecedented times like these. Even someone who isn’t involved in local government can become interested if they follow you on social media. These two platforms are now referred to as ‘traditional social media' – they have been around for 12-years plus – but that doesn't mean we have necessarily mastered them or that we're getting the most from them. "Yet, there are risks," Russo warned. "Don't go out there harvesting your citizens' data or trying to use those photos for facial recognition database construction. The Ofcom communications market report August 2016 pinpoints the UK follower numbers by major platform: Of course, the activity and frequency of individual users on these platforms can and will vary wildly, from those ever-present and highly active every day, through to those who are more occasional users and watchers. Government agencies at the local, state, and national level are finding new and innovative ways to leverage social platforms as a low-cost and effective communication tool. But managing a social program for a government agency requires a unique strategy that often differs from what's expected for business. See this collection of social media policies from cities, counties, other levels of government and the private sector.