Posts Tagged best practices

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re one of the 500 million people in the world who have a Facebook account. Or perhaps you’re one of the 75 million who use Twitter. Likely, you are one of 924 million who watch videos on You Tube. Or perhaps you’ve browsed one of three billion photos uploaded to Flickr.

Let’s face it – social media plays an active role in our lives. Research shows that more than 80 percent of Americans use social media tools and websites on a monthly basis. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are now the number one activity people do on the Web. Further, more than 75 percent of all active internet users regularly read blogs, according to Technorati, a leading blog search engine and directory.

Social media is changing the way we communicate. Just think – it took television 13 years to finally reach 50 million people. It took Facebook only two years.

All across the Army and the Department of Defense, organizations and units are actively engaging audiences through the online world of social media. While incorporating social media into the military began a few years ago, there has been a recent push from the Army and DoD to establish policy, guidance and education on social media to the workforce.

Representatives from Picatinny Arsenal’s Public Affairs Office got a taste of the Army’s social media guidance and best practices at the Army Materiel Command Social Media Conference, hosted at Redstone Arsenal Feb. 2. The guest speaker at the conference was Maj. Juanita Chang, Director of the Online and Social Media Division, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs.

“Social media is not a fad – it is here to stay,” Chang said, referencing the U.S. Army Facebook page her office manages, which has more than 600,000 fans. “Social media helps the Army better inform the American Public about their Army, bringing the nation closer to the Soldiers, Families and Civilians who serve them.”

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