Introduction to social media for Cambridge councillors Cambridge City Council 28 March 2012

2 What these slides cover Aims: By the end of this session I hope that you will… 1)Have a basic understanding about what social media is all about 1)Be able to apply some of the core concepts of information security so that you protect yourselves and those close to you when you use social media 1)Take away some ideas for how you can make social media work for you and your communities. I have included a commentary for this workshop on my website at councillors-introduction-to-social-media/ councillors-introduction-to-social-media/

3 Why is social media important? Why is Social Media important? -Data & on people using it & how people are using itData & on people using it & how people are using it -Holding those in power to account -Spread of knowledge and information

4 What is social media? “The “social” in social media implies a conversation. The difference between social media and the TV is that with the latter, viewers seldom engage with the programme-makers of the show that they are watching. Only in very recent times have programme makers expanded into the world of social media. Think X-Factor.

5 How can you use social media? Responsibly ‘I trust my officers with the powers of arrest and the ability to deprive you of your liberty. Therefore I am going to trust them to use social media’ A senior police officer on Twitter. -That is not to say they are given access to social media without any training. Social media carries risks. So does life. What matters is how we manage those risks. -Part of that training involves you seeking out further knowledge – enough for you to ensure that you are comfortable using social media.

6 Before you start – Information Security Social media is value neutral; people are not. Bad people use social media as well as good people. You need to protect yourself from the latter. Please ensure that both you and any young people that you know read through guidance from the Information Commissioner at

7 Facebook basics “Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers” “Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment.” (

8 1.Profiles (visible to friends) 2.Status (“what’s on your mind”) 3.News feed (what’s new in your networks) 4.Wall (friends post messages for you to see) 5.Photos (display and tag pictures and albums) 6.Groups (NEW: collaborative space) 7.Networks (college or workplace) 8.Messages (mail system) 9.Notes (akin to blogs) 10.Chat (instant messaging) 11.Applications (incl. games) 12.Pages (‘Like’ an organisation) 13.“Like” (signal approval) 14.Events(watch %) 15.Ads(highly targeted) (List credit: Jon Worth – What can you do on Facebook?

9 How do I use Facebook? -To stay in touch with family that live far away -To organise and publicise events. -To comment on posts other people have put up on their walls -To send messages in a manner that I used to use regularly -To have private online chats with -To link with my other social media accounts – such as my blog and my Twitter account How you use it is up to you

10 Pitfalls and limitations It can be addictive – whether it’s looking up what other people are doing to chatting and messaging, it can take over your life if you are not careful Things that you thought were private may end up being public. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with how the security settings work and set them accordingly. You’d do the same with a new car or a new house. Treat your Facebook account as your ‘electronic front door.’ You might end up seeing things on Facebook that you rather wish you didn’t – whether it’s a comment from someone, a picture, a link etc. Therefore, think carefully about which people you follow & which networks and groups you choose to join. If you wouldn’t put it on a postcard, or wouldn’t like it on the front pages of the local press, don’t post up.

11 Demonstration

12 Twitter basics See “Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting. Simply find the public streams you find most compelling and follow the conversations. At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters in length, but don’t let the small size fool you.”

13 What can you get into 140 characters? Lots -Announcements -Links to news, information, articles and columns -Photographs -Comments -Feedback

14 Downing Street’s Twitter page

15 How do I use Twitter? Excessively -I know I need to tweet less regularly. (1,000 tweets and re-tweets is not particularly healthy!) -I tweet through an ‘avatar’ – in the name of Puffles the Dragon Fairy. -I tweet using both laptop and smartphone -I use Twitter both as a medium for online chat and as a medium to share information and state opinions. WARNING – this is where people get unstuck – more to follow -I have published “House Rules” that I use to manage people’s expectations. -I have met up with people I first stumbled across through Twitter, and I have sold cuddly toys online to people I’ve not met.

16 Pitfalls and limitations Social media is a new phenomenon. Therefore lots of people will inevitably be either unfamiliar and/or uncomfortable with it. You won’t become an expert using Twitter overnight. It takes a little bit of time to get used to it. Be patient. Twitter exchanges can have the feel of a private chat in the pub. But the whole world is potentially watching. -Diane AbbottDiane Abbott -Chris HuhneChris Huhne Don’t drink and tweet. You know why. SPAM – it’s evil and I hate it but we have to deal with it.

17 Demonstration

18 See blogging as having your very own newspaper column, but where you decide what you want to publish, when to publish, on what subject and what length – but online. It’s as simple as that. Cllr Sarah Brown has one at better-wheelchair-route/ better-wheelchair-route/ The local Conservatives down my road have one too Video blogging – or ‘vlogging’ at a basic level is you speaking directly into a camera & uploading the recording to the internet. Youtube and Vimeo are popular platforms for this. I have included a couple of interesting examples in the commentary on my website. Blogging and “vlogging”

Connection/Awareness/Engagement DisengagedUnawar e AwareEngagedActive Switched off Infrequent access Daily but not continual access e.g. work/colleg e Continual access at home & work Continual connection on the move (iPhone/ laptop) “Victor Meldrew” Very busy professionals to high web users following particular people/ celebrities Student activist s Paid activist s Local activists who are not online Regular bloggers who engage with their audience People who read about issues in mainstream websites People who follow new media sites but choose not to interact People who respond infrequently on established media sites Social media users in politics field People who respond frequently in interactive sites Infrequent bloggers/ article writers “Entertainment media watchers” Affluent but disinterested People who read about issues “old” media People who write (not ) into newspapers regularly Advocates

We have silos – this is not good It appears that we may have a number of silos where individuals, firms and organisations communicate within, but not necessarily between them at a hyper-local level. BusinessPublic SectorUniversityVoluntary and Community/Civil Society Sector Local politics High level strategic links – for example at what was “local strategic partnership” level Links between university and skills & capital-intensive business Public sector a core funder and supporter of the VCS/CCS Local politicians pay a close interest in voluntary and community groups Strong links between politicians & university political societies Business sponsorship of individual local charities

21 Recap -Using Twitter and Facebook on your smartphone -Self-discipline on how and when you use Twitter and Facebook. (e.g. on your commute only?) -A recap on information security and the Information Commissioner’s guidance for young people at -The BBC has guidance at -You can find electronic copies of these slides, along with a commentary of this session at:

Picture and text credits Link in slide the-uk-the-findings/ on UK social media datahttp:// the-uk-the-findings/ Icons on slide 4 Facebook icon slide 7 List on slide 8 from Jon Worth at Slides 12 & 13 Twitter icon - Slide 14 – screenshot of 10 Downing Street account – Jon Worth 22