In good social standing

Technology

In good social standing

A new study finds Facebook -- along with other social sites like Twitter and MySpace -- have become the most commonly used Gov 2.0 tools for government agencies.

Federal News Network Staff

October 5, 2010 6:00 am

< a min read

In case you haven’t heard, this social networking thing is really catching on. There’s a new movie out called “The Social Network,” and Facebook recently surpassed Google as the most viewed Web site in the world.

However, there’s even more evidence supporting its success: A new study from Hewlett-Packard, obtained by Federal Computer Week, finds Facebook — along with other social sites like Twitter and MySpace — have become the most commonly used Gov 2.0 tools for government agencies.

More than 100 executives and contractors from federal, state and local government agencies were surveyed about their efforts using Web 2.0 technologies. Nearly 60 percent of respondents said they used social networking tools, making them the most popular applications.

Blogs and video were the next most popular at 48 and 44 percent respectively.

Perhaps even more important — more than three-quarters of respondents said they understood Gov 2.0 and described it as a movement toward greater collaboration, transparency and technological innovation.