What Social Media Do Government Officials Use Most?

All social media platforms are not created equal in the eyes of public officials.

A new survey of 164 members of the Governing Exchange, an online community of government executives, finds that Facebook and LinkedIn are used most often in the workplace [both by 44 percent of respondents]. Unsurprisingly, Facebook is used at home by more than four out of five government executives. The findings reveal that Pinterest — despite being only two years old — is used at home by one out of five public servants.

Only 16 percent of respondents said they don’t use social networks at all. Meanwhile, 17 percent said someone else manages their social media accounts.

Although the numbers suggest that most government officials are using at least one social network in some capacity, 70 percent of survey respondents said government could do a better job of using social media. Sixty percent said they believe that constituents support more use of social media.

—Author Matt Williams writes for “Government Technology.” Full article available at www.govtech.com/e-government/What-Social-Media-Do-Government-Officials-Use-Most-GRAPHIC.html

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