Socitm surveys IT managers over ‘blocking’ of social media by councils

Social media within local authorities and the degree to which it poses security threats, drains bandwidth, or causes other problems to councils' IT systems and infrastructure.

Social media enthusiasts in local government have sometimes blamed 'IT' for blocking access to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other websites they have come to regard as essential to their work, especially for peer networking, communications, customer insight and community engagement.

Socitm is keen to explore where blocking policies exist, whether these come from IT or elsewhere in the council, and on what grounds such policies have been put in place. The survey is also seeking information about ways in which councils have started to use social media to improve efficiency & effectiveness, to engage with citizens, and to encourage virtual communities.

The results of the survey will be incorporated into a new report on local authorities' use and practice around social media to be published by Socitm Insight in the Autumn. There will also be a session on this topic at Socitm 2009, Socitm's annual conference being held this year Edinburgh, 11-13 October.

The survey has been emailed to local authority IT and web managers in Socitm membership. Other local authority IT and web managers who would like to participate, should contact chris.head@socitm.net. Completed surveys should be returned by Friday, 18th September 2009.

Further information

Vicky Sargent Socitm Press Office
Tel: 07726 601 139  email: vicky.sargent@socitm.gov.uk