Social media networks and government

1. Social Networks &
Government
Vijay Rajmohan
Lecture for officers of M/o Urban Development,
Government of India
28.01.2016

2. The fundamentals of Social
Networks
 Recreates the villages of old in a
networked world.
 Old wine – but in new, improved,
blazing speed bottles!
 Benefits are plenty, so are the
problems – but you can’t resist this
tide.
 Some examples: facebook, twitter,
whatsapp

3. Social Networks – GoI
 Prominent Ministries, Departments,
Autonomous bodies, Regulators –
already present in SCNs.
 Communication with stakeholders,
public through cost effective, fast,
wide & easy modes of
communication.
 Reach out to the crowd in the
language they understand.

4. Problematic Areas
 All said and done, Government is
Government!
 Problems of forgetting the dos and don’ts
of Government.
 Politically sensitive issues – likes, shares,
forwards and the problems associated with
them.
 Fast in internet and slow on files – the
problem of ignoring the ‘brick & mortar’ in
Government!

5. Security Issues
 Personal interactions becoming
official problems & nightmares.
 Defence officers in the ‘net’.
 Genuine problems of not
understanding the reach and depth
of technology!