This document discusses the UK government's strategy for social media and digital engagement. It provides background on concepts like Web 2.0 and citizen-generated content. It outlines the government's goals of engaging citizens digitally, making data freely available for reuse, and appointing a "Twitter Tzar" to encourage collaboration between government and citizens online. Examples discussed include using YouTube, expressing views on social networks, giving feedback on public services, and collaborating on policy.

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Social Media and Digital Engagement:
The UK Strategy
Dr Julia Glidden
Manging Director, 21c Consultancy
Doha, Qatar
May 2011

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What is Web 2.0
“Web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing,
interoperability, user-centered design and collaboration. Examples of Web 2.0
include social networking sites, blogs, wikis, video sharing sites, hosted
services, web applications, mashups and folksonomies.”
Wikipedia
“What the Web was supposed to be all along.”
Tim Berners-Lee
inventor of the World Wide Web

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“Off With Their Heads....”

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Where we Came from ….

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u Engage with citizens
digitally and encourage citizen-
generated content to help
achieve the Government’s social
and economic objectives
v Give innovators the
information they need, when
they need it, free to re-use in a
way that maximises long-term
economic and social benefits

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“You YouTube If You Want To!”

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‘Twitter Tzar’ Appointed
The Cabinet Office said his new role will see him:
"work across government departments to encourage,
support and challenge them in moving from
communicating to citizens on the web to conversing
and collaborating with them through digital technology
– including blogs and social networking sites such as
Twitter and Facebook.’’

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A Shift to User Generated Content

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Authentic Content from Public Servants

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Citizens Expressing Views Digitally

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Citizens Giving Feedback on Public Services

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Citizens & Government Collaborating on Policy
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Civil Society Feedback Platforms

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Freeing Data: the data.gov.uk programme
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Real Time Energy Use in Gov Departments

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Where Are We Now?

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Celebrity ‘Digital Champion’
Digital 2010 and Beyond: Revolution not Evolution

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Support from the Top
Keep the IT simple – it’s not really an IT project
Use third-party or open source capabilities wherever possible
Be unpolished if necessary, and then improve
Engage with potential users & seek feedback
Take small steps and do the easy things first
Learn what works for your organisation
Each organisation needs to make its own journey

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Questions or Thoughts?
Call: +44 (0) 20 7616 8444
eMail: julia@21cConsultancy.com
Twitter: @JuliaGlidden