Social Media and the Future of Democracy Part Two: The Movement of trust away from large institutions and toward social networks

By Andrew Foxwell, Director of Marketing and New Media

The future is now. In my last blog, I talked about how people are more important than brands, based on what I learned from the recent session I attended at the Brookings Institute, “How Social Networking Can Reinvigorate Democracy and Civic Participation.” Here’s the next takeaway from that thought-provoking event:

Trust is moving away from large institutions and toward social networks.

Instead of a homepage like CNN.com, people are now switching, en-masse, to their social networks for curated news they trust. This makes sense: a friend telling you to read something is likely more interesting because they’ve already vetted it.

This leads to the importance of Representatives having a presence on these mediums, where they are accessible. Although it’s all too common, fear of these mediums and their impact is well behind the times. Whether you like it or now, people are talking, trusting, and taking part. And the more you interact, the more trusted and relevant you become.

And don’t discount the power of fact-checking. Be sure your intention is clear and true. People are seeing through things more quickly and more efficiently, which is good for our democracy. Today, citizens are now journalists that fact-check the halls of power. This means a greater chance — and responsibility — for the average person to communicate effectively.

The bottom line: Social media is the future. Embrace it and make it work for you so you stay relevant.

Next in the Series: Technology Can Lead to Greater Civility in Politics

Cross Posted from www.iConstituent.com/blog