Why I Unfollow and Unlike Government Social Media

January 23rd, 2012 - by Chris Battle

I just worked my way through multiple social media feeds from federal law enforcement and homeland security agencies. I wanted to stick a paper clip in my eye. The lack of thought put into the posts, and the clear lack of interest in engaging community members, is painfully obvious. The FBI, for example, seems to confuse Twitter as a news release aggregator. I don’t want to pick on the FBI, though; almost all of these agencies view social media platforms as a one way information dispensary.

I have a distinct interest in following these agencies online. I come from them. I have worked at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. I want to follow them. I’d like to keep abreast of what’s going on. I’d like to engage them.

They, however, have no interest in engaging me.

I honestly don’t care that an Army private pleaded guilty to some vague scheme to defraud the government. Not any more than I care to read that the Washington, D.C., Metro Police roused some homeless guy sleeping on the mall. Nor am I interested in the fact that ten people were arrested for health care fraud. Arrested? That means nothing. More importantly, I don’t care for reading about the arrests or even convictions of small-time criminals.

What about my own former agency – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I learn from ICE’s Twitter feed that some guy was deported to the United Kingdom. Am I going to have to read an endless list of people deported?

The continuous desire on the part of government agencies to “control the message,” a concept that went out the window back in the days when discussion boards were all the rage, is self-defeating. Guys: You’re not controlling any message. Other people are talking about you. Yes, they are talking about you every day and every minute – online. Whether you like it or not. You should be talking back. Putting your mission in perspective. Making sure correct information is circulating.

Using your social media platforms to post the equivalent of traffic citations not only gets you nowhere but no one is interested. You’re ability to join the debate and influence the message is crippled. Why? Nobody is reading you. Not even me – a natural ally and consumer of your content.

It’s time for government agencies to put some serious thought into their communications strategies. It’s not 1995. It’s not even 2005. The media landscape is changing, and you’re not adapting. This means you’re losing power over the message you so desperately want to control.

Digital media – from interactive websites and blogs to social media – could be a valuable tool, even an operational tool. Use it.

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