Open Government and Social Media

Dr Gege Gatt & Alex Grech

Where did it begin?

dēmokratía

Public Policy

So what’s social media?

“SOCIAL MEDIA describes a new set of internet tools that enable shared community experiences, both online and in person.”
Source: http://walksquawk.blogs.com

“Social media is people having conversations online.”

Primary Social Media Tools

Who uses it?

Who uses social media?
Creators
Varying strategies for varying patterns of usage
Critics
Collectors
Joiners
Spectators
Inactives
Source: Groundswell, Forrester Research, 2008.

Who uses social media?
Publish a blog
Publish your own web pages
Upload video you created
Upload audio/music you created
Creators
Critics
Post ratings/reviews of products/services
Comment on someone else’s blog
Contribute to online forums
Contribute to/edit articles in a wiki
Collectors
Use RSS feeds
Add ‘tags’ to web pages or photos
‘Vote’ for websites online
Read blogs
Watch video from other users
Listen to podcasts
Read online forums
Read customer ratings/reviews
Joiners
Maintain profile on a social networking site
Visit social networking sites
Spectators
None of the above
Inactives
Source: Groundswell, Forrester Research, 2008.

Why bother?

1. It’s HUGE
Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends, April 2008

1. It’s HUGE
83% have watched movies online
45% of teens spend time on the internet and 28% in front of TV

1. It’s HUGE
73% of active online users have read a blog
45% have started their own blog

1. It’s HUGE

1. It’s HUGE
57%joined a social network

1. It’s HUGE
53% uploaded a photo
Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends,April2008

1. It’s HUGE
“IN 2009, IF YOU’RE NOT ON A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, YOU’RE NOT ON THE INTERNET.”

2. It’s TRUSTED
78%OF PEOPLE TRUST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER CONSUMERS.

2. It’s TRUSTED
The old communication model was a MONOLOGUE.
ADVERTISING
14%OF PEOPLE TRUST ADVERTISING

2. It’s TRUSTED

3. It moulds perception
32%OF PEOPLE TRUST BLOGGERS’ OPINIONS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends,April2008

3. It moulds perception

4. It’s not going away

http://tweetminster.co.uk/

www.fixmystreet.com

5. It’s on the lobbyists’ agenda
www.guardian.co.uk

5. It’s on the lobbyists’ agenda
www.senatoronline.org.au

A more participatory democracy

The new democracy

More accessible process
More participative public policy
Broader influence in policy outcomes
Government closer to governed

Increased political legitimacy

The new democracy

The new democracy
?

The new democracy

What are the barriers?

Barriers to overcome

1. Language of Engagement

2. Technology

3. Bureaucracy

4. ICT Skills & Training
Is your team comfortable with dabbling with social technologies without panicking about: protocols, security, copy-writing, policy and more??

5. Digital Divide
DAI

Infrastructure
Affordability
Knowledge
Quality
Usage

http://wireless.ictp.it/simulator/

6. Political Regimes

7. Perception = fluff

Making it happen

Five-Step Planning Process
1
2
3
4
5

1. People

1. People
Who are the influencers?
WOMMA, 2009 – Influencer handbook

1. People
Get ready to engage with C3
“Collaborative creative class“

1. People

1. People
Ambassador 3
Ambassador 1
Ambassador 2
Consider engaging brand AMBASSADORS

2. Objectives

3. Strategy

3. Strategy
It’s about CURATING CONVERSATIONS

3. Strategy
Governments can put social media to strategic use

4. Technology
Decision-makers cannot make informed choices about the use of social media until they or their staffs have personally had experience with this technology

5. Metrics
Everything can be measured.. But measure the right stuff!

5. Metrics

End thoughts

Social media…

This is the new way of the world

Governments will benefit by adopting progressive new approaches to social media and the indirect, intimate influence it has on various publics..

Gege Gatt
gege.gatt@icon.com.mt
Alex Grech
alex.grech@strategyworks.net
http://twitter.com/alexgrech