This document discusses how governments can use social media and information and communications technology to provide public information. It defines social media and common platforms used, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Issuu and LinkedIn. It also defines ICT as technologies that allow communication through devices and networks. The document concludes that following open data guidelines ensures transparency and that social media and ICT help engage citizens and provide real-time access to government information on various devices.

1. Social Media and Information &
Communications Technology (ICT)
The Procurement of Government Public Information
An Executive Summary
By E. Rey Garcia, MPA Candidate
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
College of Liberal Arts
Public Affairs & Security Studies
Master of Public Administration
Original Publish Date: September 6, 2015
Revision Two: September 24, 2015

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An Executive Summary on Government
Social Media and Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
The Procurement of Government Public Information
*****************************
By E. Rey Garcia, MPA Candidate
Original Publish Date: September 6, 2015
Revision Two: September 24, 2015
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
Public Affairs & Security Studies
Master of Public Administration
PAFF 6315: Management of Government Information Technology
Practitioner Lecturer: John R. Milford

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An Executive Summary on Government
Social Media & Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
by E. Rey Garcia, MPA Candidate
The use of social media and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) for the
procurement of government public information.
Social Media Technologies: Social Media is defined by Oxford Dictionaries as “Websites and
applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.”
Commonly used social media for the procurement of government data can range from, but not
limited to, the following:
 Facebook for Government – This social media site allows for collaboration via public
postings, replies, comments, and likes. On May 2015, GovLoop and Facebook
collectively harnessed their abilities to help governments strategize and educate on best
practices to deliver public information and to better engage with their constituents;
therefore, aligning the needs and goals of the organization with those of the public.
 Twitter – A microblogging site used to broadcast instantaneous messages directly and
immediately to the smart devices of its followers. An effective tool during emergencies.
 YouTube – The largest video sharing website. Often used for video broadcasting
information to its followers. Some governments even use YouTube to broadcast city
council meetings.
 Issuu – An online digital publishing platform that allows for the distributing of large
documents such as magazines, catalogs, newspapers, and books. Governments who use
Issuu, publish large documents as budgets, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
(CAFRs), auditor reports, policies, and other public documents.

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 LinkedIn – A professional social networking website designed for business and is used
by both private and public sectors. This social network is used for networking, job
posting and seeking, online resumes, and research on organizational profiles.
Governments and Human Resource departments often use it as a means of recruiting
qualified candidates for professional positions.
Information & Communications Technologies (ICTs): Information and Communications
Technology or Technologies (ICTs) is defined by Rouse, M. as “an umbrella term that includes
any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones,
computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various
services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance
learning.” Government Information Technology departments use ICTs to deliver public
information directly to users’ smart devices via a network of social media, mobile web, texting,
email, blogging, apps, etc.
In Conclusion, governments who follow the Project Open Data guidelines issued by President
Barack Obama on May 2013, via the Open Data Policy and Executive Order, aim at ensuring
that data released by the government is accessible and as useful as possible. Open Government
ensures public trust and establishes a system of transparency, public participation, and
collaboration. Openness strengthens democracy and promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of
our government. Governments who establish transparency and social media policies and follow
best practices for delivering data, use social media as a means of citizen engagement and the
flow of public information to the community, such as events, agendas, minutes, public meetings,
and workshops, financial reports, budget(s), audits, and emergency management (mitigation,
preparedness, response, and recovery). To achieve total transparency, governments use ICTs to

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deliver information to the community. This can range from, but not limited, securely encrypted
data via fiber network(s), servers, routers, computers, cloud computing, mobile web and apps, all
delivering real-time information to users’ smart devices.

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References
Andrews, C. (2015, May 6). The Government's Guide to Using Facebook. Retrieved September
6, 2015, from https://www.govloop.com/resources/the-governments-guide-to-using-facebook/
Obama, B. (n.d.). Transparency and Open Government. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGovernment
Oxford Online Dictionaries. Social Media. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/social-media
Park, T., & Vanroekel, S. (2013, May 16). Introducing: Project Open Data. Retrieved
September 6, 2015, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/16/introducing-project-
open-data
Rouse, M. (n.d.). What is ICT (Information and Communications Technology - or
Technologies)? - Definition from WhatIs.com. Retrieved August 30, 2015, from
http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/ICT-information-and-communications-technology-or-
technologies