COMMITTEES   |   Issue Committee Archives

2011-12

Social Media Forum

Issue Statement: State governments, in common with Federal agencies and local governments, are increasingly employing free or low-cost, web-based social media technologies to advance their communications efforts, provide services and increase citizen engagement with government. While many public agencies are already well-advanced in their use of social media tools, other states have been slow to adopt them, due to concerns about the suitability of consumer-based products to the environment of state government. Other states are experiencing widespread but unauthorized use, as agencies begin using the tools without approval or awareness of CIOs.

States need to employ social media technologies as they would any other: they must establish: (a) the business case for the utilization of social media, (2) appropriate terms of service agreements as they begin use, and (c) a life-cycle management approach to social media-based projects. The latter should address the full range of requirements that exist for other IT projects.

Goals and Objectives: The immediate goal of the working group will be completion of Terms of Service (TOS) discussions with the top social media providers and adoption of a modified TOS agreement that states can legally sign. The working group will also serve as a mechanism for information sharing that allows discussion and deeper analysis of the issues enumerated above (business case, security, privacy, accessibility, retention, etc.). This will include review of state policies and strategic initiatives relating to social media use, with the aim of identifying best practices in this area.

Deliverables: Adoption of modified TOS agreements with the top four or five social media providers, Calls to Action, Issue Briefs