Chapter 2. What is Social Media?
One of GSA's missions is to provide the public, customers, and partners with easy access to government information and services. Social media isn't just where content is discovered, but where it is shared. Within GSA are various ways you can participate in and become more familiar with social media.
All supervisors have a duty to ensure that GSA’s use of social media is focused and mission-oriented. A list of our social media sites can be found at http://www.gsa.gov/socialmedia.
Within GSA, you have various ways to participate in and become more familiar with social media including:
- GSA’s Social Media Center – An internal digital town hall where you can find guidance, and discover and discuss how to effectively use social media to serve our mission.
- GSA’s Online University – An internal training site where you're encouraged to take a social media awareness course and an ethics and social media course.
- Salesforce Chatter – An internal platform to engage in conversations and join groups related to social media.
- GSA’s Social Media Directory – A listing of GSA’s social media sites and initiatives. Be sure to "friend" and "follow" GSA.
- GSA’s Center for Excellence in Digital Government – Our governmentwide program that helps all agencies strengthen their social media practices.
- Social Media Account Verification Tool – At this GSA-managed social media registry (available in English and Spanish), anyone can confirm the validity of a variety of government social media accounts.
Types of Social Media (From GSA managed site www.howto.gov/social-media)
- Blogs
- Social networks
- Microblogs (Twitter, etc.)
- Wikis
- Video
- Podcasting
- Discussion forums
- RSS
- Social media releases
- Photo-sharing
- Employee ideation programs
