<h2>Social Media & Local Government</h2>

It seems like many local government agencies in the US are in catch-up mode with how to deal with Social Media and their employees. Michael Hyatt blogs that there is a 'Twitter Life Cycle' for organizations. I believe this cycle is true for the whole social media scene.

Excerpt from 'Where is Your Organization in the Twitter Life Cycle?" ~Michael Hyatt

• Stage 1: Ridicule. The executives initially think these technologies are silly
• Stage 2: Control. The executives grow concerned about abuse of the technology
• Stage 3: Experimentation. The executives begin experimenting with the technology themselves
• Stage 4: Adoption. The executives start using the technology themselves
• Stage 5: Dedication. The executives wonder how the organization could function without the technology

In addition to these I believe that most local government agencies have a 'Stage 2.5', the One Way Street stage. This is where different segments of the agency are able to justify the use of social media as a promotion tool, but define it as a one way communication tool. No return collaboration, communication, or community is allowed.

In this stage the face of the agency on the networks is generic and is used only for events advertising , emergency notification, or disruptions like construction. All other employees of the agency still fall into stage 2, under a strict control enforced by the local IT Department.

Once an agency beings to move into Stage 3 a flurry of activity occurs from both the Public Information Office and the IT Department. Both working on how to maintain control, service the public, and assure security. This is the stage at which the agencies social media policy is defined.

The social network landscape is still virtually unknown by the agency, so the first draft of the policy is usually broad and strict due to the fact that abuse of the technology is still the focus of the agency. It is during this period that those employees that are 'Evangelists' for social media should aid their management in understanding the business benefits to them as an employee, and to the agency.

This is where I sit today, on the evangelist side of the fence, with a draft of our Social Media Policy in hand. I will keep you up to date on if we make it to Stage 4 and what our policy ultimately looks like when it is done.

Does your local government have a Social Media Policy?