Connect on Social Media

Why social media?
     Social media is everywhere! Political events and news are at voters’ fingertips, and now, so are their elected officials. Contacting officials on social media is easier and quicker than sending an email or a letter. Many politicians see social media as a valuable platform for their constituents to suggest improvements and show their support. Officials often use social media to connect with younger demographics, who dominate most social media platforms.

• Constituent: a member of a community with the power to elect officials 

     However, you should always be careful and think twice before you post on social media. Watch out for unverified social media accounts, and make sure to fact check yourself before posting something. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to not distribute it.    

• Before contacting a representative about your issue, make sure to verify your claims with a nonpartisan fact-checking site. 

Why follow elected officials?
    Social media is a great way to get to know your elected officials so you can make an informed choice during the next election. Many elected officials post information about their office’s accomplishments, personal stories from their constituents, and dates and times of town halls. It’s worth following your officials whether you agree with them or not. Either way, you’ll have more information about what they are doing and how you feel about them. You can express your support or criticism throughout the term, rather than just at the voting booth. 

Which site should I use?

• Twitter: Twitter, with its 280-character limit, is best for short summaries. Politicians use it to comment on current events and share links, and to start conversations using the popular thread feature.
• Facebook: Facebook makes creating events easy, so many officials use it to promote town halls and meet and greets. Facebook allows for lots of different types of content--officials can post large amounts of text, videos, picture galleries, and more. 
• YouTube: Most officials don’t have their own YouTube channel, but they may link to YouTube videos from their other social media accounts. YouTube is great for hosting longer videos, like recordings of town hall meetings or speeches. 
• Instagram: Instagram features photos and short videos, so officials who use Instagram often use it to make a personal connection. They may post photos of town halls or community events, and some even post pictures of their families. 
  
  
• Find your US congress person’s social media 

How do I get started?
     Here are some ways of how you can use social media to your advantage as a voter:

• Participate in an event! Many elected officials will host events like town halls or meet and greets. As a social media follower, you’ll hear about all of them as soon as they’re planned, and you can clear your schedule to make it to the event. 
• Be the first to know! Elected officials are often some of the first to react to new legislation and current events. With social media, you can be among the first people to know what is happening, and what your official is doing.
• Straight to the source! Your local officials often provide direct links to legislation and reputable sources. However, keep in mind that officials will likely share information that benefits them, and you should read any links they provide with caution. You can also directly message your representatives whenever you have questions or want to help out. 
  
  
• Here are some tips for media outreach and advocacy

 
 

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