Relevant:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2757556/posts
White House Considers New Social Media Avenues
Baltimore Jewish Life ^ | 8/2/11 | Joseph Marks
Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2011 10:09:35 AM by Nachum
White House communications staffers are investigating using social media sites beyond Facebook and Twitter to broaden the Obama administration’s public engagement and, perhaps, to communicate in different ways, a White House aide said Tuesday.
That investigation is driven partly by a belief that social media changes so rapidly the government must be willing to experiment with new platforms, and because outside advisers to the administration already are using newer platforms, White House New Media Director Macon Phillips said.
Former America Online Chief Executive Officer Steve Case, who serves on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, for example, uses Quora.com, an online question-and-answer site, Phillips said.
Phillips was speaking at a panel discussion on social media and civic participation hosted by the Brookings Institution think tank.
As Twitter grows and develops, White House staff has noted that users tend to favor Tweets from individuals over institutions, Phillips said, even when an individual is Tweeting in his or her role as an agency or corporate official.
I hope the GOP and Tea Party are up on this emerging technology also.