Social media sites are predicated on the concept of reciprocity. When a user follows one of his peers, he expects his peer to respond in kind. The same is true with content engagement. The basis of social media is a social contract where users “Like” and “Share” one another’s content. Given that the ultimate goal... Continue Reading →
Monday’s Must Read List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- People want trusted news, Reuters Institute says (Reuters)Inside a Chinese Propaganda Campaign (The New York Times) Read the Pentagon’s UFO Report to Congress (The Verge)Egypt Firm raises $3.6M to connect celebrities... Continue Reading →
The Training Disconnect: How to Prepare Diplomats for the Digital Age
The adoption of digital technologies by diplomats has had a profound impact on the working routines of ministries of foreign affairs (MFAs). Specifically, digital technologies have had a temporal and spatial effect on diplomacy. The speed with which news travels online has reduced the response time of diplomats. Those wishing to comment on world events... Continue Reading →
Restoring US Credibility, One Conversation at a Time
On the 7th of May 2014, the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama uploaded a Selfie of herself holding a sign saying "#BringBackOurGilrs" onto her twitter account. The Selfie was part of social media campaign calling for the release of 250 Nigerian school girls taken captive by the Islamist Boko Hraam group. https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/464148654354628608/photo/1... Continue Reading →