MEPs are connected! Key findings on EP social media usage
11.05.12
This finding shows that Wikipedia is the most used new media site by MEPs.
Surprisingly, the study shows that Facebook and Youtube are quite popular among MEPs with 72% and 82% of users compared with a lower use of Twitter and Linkedin.
Indeed, only 35% of MEPs use Twitter for professional purposes and only 20% of them frequently log on Linkedin.
Going further
This survey shows internet cannot be ignored in the professional landscape and also the rise of social media among European politics.
However, it would be interesting to know how the MEPs and the Brussels officials use social media.
Indeed, those who frenquently log on Facebook and Twitter, do they use those tools to engage directly with citizens or just to gather information?
And are they tweeting themselves or do they ask their team what to tweet?
Analysing those findings, Andrew Hawkins of ComRes says:
“This ground-breaking research provides fresh insight into the way politics is developing at the EU level, and social media channels are now firmly part of the political landscape. It is no longer an option for those seeking to conduct any sort of relationship with policy makers to rely on traditional forms of communication. The burgeoning use of social media by policy should be seen not as a threat but embraced as a great opportunity to utilise a far more effective and advantageous method of communication.”
To access the full EU Digital Pulse 2012 report, click here
