New guide to help councils to utilise social networking sites to boost youth participation

The Local Government Information Unit will launch a new guide titled Social Media Youth Participation in Local Democracy for practitioners working with young people. The guide has been created by the Units Social Media Action Learning Set which is a partnership with Practical Participation, experts in the field of social media and representatives from thirty local authorities.

Recent years have seen a communication revolution, an explosion of new media bringing young people into more frequent, more engaging and more pervasive forms of mass interconnection than ever before.

Core Facts

Councils should harness the potential of social networking sites to promote youth participation in the democratic process and in the delivery of childrens services, the LGiU has said. The LGiU is calling on local authorities to work with other public, private and third sector service providers to develop their capacity and commitment to engaging with young people through social networking. Recent years have seen a communication revolution, an explosion of new media bringing young people into more frequent, more engaging and more pervasive forms of mass interconnection than ever before. This pamphlet wants to help all those active in local government to engage with these new forms of social life, so that we can channel the energy of young people into the revitalisation of our democratic systems.

Quotes

This pamphlet wants to help all those active in local government to engage with these new forms of social life, so that we can channel the energy of young people into the revitalisation of our democratic systems.

Jasmine Ali, Head of Children Services Network at LGiU:

"Social networking has the potential to revolutionise how councils engage with children and young people. Through sites like Facebook we can get thousands involved in the design and delivery of services, and we can reenergise our democracy by empowering young people in our communities."

LGiU chief executive Andy Sawford: