Social Media, Disseminated information and Government Transparency.

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”

                                                                                    -Thomas Jefferson.

Over the weekend of the 1^st of February 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbot uploaded a video to the social media site YouTube, stating that there was a growing national confidence in the current liberal government and that he would continue to do “good work and build a strong and prosperous economy” (in Ireland 2014). However, within hours of the videos release, it was removed from the site after YouTube users flagged the video as one that contained ‘deceitful content’. 

(Mumbrella 2014)

This incidence is a great example of the role social media plays in disseminating information, and further shows the ‘voice’ members of the public are now able to utilise in contemporary internet-driven society. The reporting of Abbott’s address as a video containing deceitful content shows the power social media users have in expressing their opinions. The mass labelling of this video clearly and peacefully conveyed the disengagement and mistrust some social media users have in the current government. I would propose that this simple action was indeed a form of virtual protest.  This incident highlights that social media is much more than a way of maintaining contacts and having a good time; it is also possible to view social media as a contemporary version of  the opinion poll, one which is capable of encapsulating the voices of millions.  

The fact that social media users marked Abbott’s video as containing ‘deceptive content’ shows that a number of Australians do not believe the Liberal party have remained transparent in their governmental duties. Transparency is important as it aids governments and government leaders in keeping their policies and practices honest as good government must be seen to be realised (Bertot, Jaeger, & Grimes 2010, p.264). For governments to promote transparency and show that they are not corrupt, they need to realise that the cultural milieu of the nation shapes societal attitudes toward the value of information. When governments disseminate information, it must be as truthful as possible, so as not to make citizens will feel that their government leaders and parties are corrupt, dishonest or untrustworthy (Bertot et al 2010, p.264).

References

Bertot, J.C., Jaeger, P. T, & Grimes, J. M. 2010, ‘Using ICTs to create a culture of transparency: E-government and social media as openness and anti-corruption tools for societies’, Government Information Quarterly, no.27, pp.246-271. 

 Ireland, J. 2014, ‘Mischievous spam report sees YouTube take down Prime Minister’s message’, The Sydney Morning Herald, accessed 3^rd February ,from < http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mischievous-spam-report-sees-youtube-take-down-prime-ministers-message-20140203-31wcz.html>. 

Mumbrella 2014, ‘PM Tony Abbott's tweet, which was deleted after the video was removed from YouTube’ [image], accessed 5 February, from http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/21234369/tony-abbotts-video-suspended-from-youtube-for-deceptive-content/.