Social media in politics

You may already use social media for making contact with others, keeping them informed, meeting, planning and doing things together. However, social media are also an important tool for political literacy.

There has been a lot of coverage in the media about the way in which online social media and social networks are changing the way in which citizens interact with political bodies.

Social media and people power

An example of the power of social media is the part they are known to have played in organising and mobilising the pro-democracy movements behind the 'Arab Spring' uprisings. At the Guardian's 2011 Activate summit, Hillary Clinton's senior adviser, Alec Ross, spoke on how social networks devolve power to individuals and small institutions.

Following Parliament on social media

Recognising this change, politicians are now using social media (such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) to win the loyalty and trust of voters.

They also analyse what people have been saying about them online - see this recent Ipsos MORI report, which looked at the use of social media during the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary Election campaign.

You can use social media to keep up to date with political events and policies, and to engage learners.

Using social media to develop political literacy

These links show examples of some social studies departments which use Twitter to link with learners:

• Modern studies example 1
• Modern studies example 2
• Modern studies example 3.