Image via Peshkova/Shutterstock.com

3 Ways Social Media is Improving Government

How advanced sharing affects the way government agencies operate.

In my last post, I wrote about advanced sharing—basically the idea that the things and the way we share online are becoming as diverse and sophisticated as the things and way we share off-line.  Offline, we donate our time, we lend our friends and neighbors our tools, we check books out of the library, we talk about personal matters with one friend and shopping or style with another, we confide in our spouses exclusively in some areas (our finances, a possible example), and don’t have to talk with them about others (our bunions, a possible example).

But I left the question unanswered: how does this advanced sharing help government agencies in the ways that I laid out at the beginning of this series?  Here’s how:

Real-time data collection and analysis to drive decision-making

One of the critical components in real-time data collection is knowing where to go to find the data.  As people become more adept at how to share various kinds of information and goods online, government agencies can use those tools as well to answer more finely tuned questions.

For example, an application called Park Circa allows urban residents to rent out their parking spaces or drive ways—that is, they can share them in exchange for money.  By seeing where and when commuters are using the app, government managers can better understand real-time parking needs in their cities.

Government managers who are looking for citizen-generated data also have more options than ever to solicit it.  The US Geological Survey, as I’ve written about before, used Twitter to help track earthquake information, for example.  But there are other, more tightly-focused social networks where people share other types of information. 

Patients Like Me is an example of a community in which people share information that they may well be unwilling to discuss in open forums like Twitter or Facebook.  An organization like the NIH, CDC, or FDA might have an interest in seeing how patients are reacting to new medications, treatment regimens, or recall notices.  Seeing, in real-time, how people are responding to new information allows agencies to adapt their own operations quickly.

Efficient use of physical and digital communication networks

What makes advanced sharing so powerful is that instead of sending out the same message through different social media channels, hoping to find the desired audience, agencies can see how their target audience is using social media and tailor both their message and their medium. 

An example I noted recently was how government agencies could use Pinterest in ways that were more efficient than using other social media.  A case in point could be the US Mint putting up a Pinterest board with all of its collectible coins.  Amateur numismatists could scan the page visually, looking for additions to their collections in a way that they cannot do through a text-based interface.  They can also share their collection more easily online, sparking interest in the coins the mint is selling.  The US Postal Service already has many Pinboards dedicated to stamp collections that encourages philatelists in this manner.

Government agencies can also benefit from sharing things as well as information online.  In my post on Products-on-Demand (PonD), I demonstrated how people can share things at a distance by putting their code online, either for free or for a price.  Peer-to-peer car sharing may also appeal to some agencies, for example, if a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed near necessary personnel in the aftermath of a snow emergency.

Managing citizen participation in agency activities

When government managers fully understand how their audiences share online, they will be much better able to manage their activities easily—often with a much lighter touch than was possible even a few years ago.  Communities can become self-organizing and self-managing, as is happening around the Old Weather program, which has a robust community forum. 

Of course, as people become more sophisticated about sharing online, and as the places that we share and the activities we engage in both broaden and deepen, we find ourselves faced with a new, urgent need: to manage our identity.  Do we need to provide our credentials—where we live, our educational history, our professional qualifications, our age, gender, medical conditions—to every community? 

Identity management, which I wrote about here, is the final emerging trend that I’ll write about in this series.

Image via Peshkova/Shutterstock.com

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.