Engage with the young in the digital world
Your recent articles (More young would vote by mobile or web and E-petitions gather support) raise some important points about the way the government engages with citizens.
With the general election fast approaching, improving public engagement, encouraging discussions and communicating with citizens in the way in which they want to be contacted should be the government’s top priority.
At the last general election only 37 per cent of 18-to-24-year olds voted and the fact that a third of young people admitted that they are not planning to vote this year should come as no surprise.
Even less of a shock is the fact that three quarters of these young people have said that they would vote if they could do so through social media or by text. We live in a digital world. As an increasing number of people of all ages embrace mobile technology and social media, the government should be using these direct communication channels to interact with citizens and boost people’s interest in politics. This engagement needs to start at a local level.
With Socitm revealing that 90 per cent of councils restrict access to social media, there is clearly still a long way to go before these direct communication channels are used to their full potential.Paul Birdman, Telindus



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