MPs not using the Web Effectively

[Michael Hardner]

A study of member of Parliament websites suggests most federally elected politicians have staked out a place to communicate with constituents online, but many aren’t making full use of the web.

This summer, the non-profit Samara took a look at the websites for Canada’s MPs and rated them based on how extensively they encouraged engagement with voters.

On the worst end of the scale, there were five MPs that seemed to have no web presence at all.

From an article at the G&M

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mp-websites-not-making-best-use-of-the-internet-study-says/article15715757/

The examples of the 5 MPs are indeed aggravating, however I'm even more frustrated over the fact that we have 'solved' the problem of political dialogue on the web with an unsexy solution, ie. the web forum, albeit on a micro scale and yet this answer doesn't seem to have a place in the larger political dialogue.

Any ideas there ?

[Michael Hardner]

More on this topic:

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/522111/how-to-burst-the-filter-bubble-that-protects-us-from-opposing-views/

The 'filter bubble' occurs when people surround themselves with those with whom they agree. It's a natural phenomenon, however it can be combatted either by an algorithm as presented here - or maybe by TALKING TO PEOPLE outside your circle. Even your next door neighbours may have different views than you think.

[The_Squid]

This government doesn't want to hear from Canadians... they already know what they want to know.

Here is what they know:

Crime is bad, getting worse, and more people need to be thrown in jail.

Global warming? Yes... no... maybe... but JOBS!!!

Science? We have science... JOBS!!!

Drugs? All bad... bad people do drugs... if you mention drugs, you're a bad man... think of the children!!

[Topaz]

Today, in QP. MP Clements announced that the government was monitoring social media to find out view of Canadians on the government. In other words Tony, are Conservative worry about their support with the Senate Scandal and re-election??

[Remiel]

I could argue that individual MPs lack of web presence is not the worst sign of how inept politicians, political parties, and politicos in general are at using the web. They seem to have forgotten McLuhan's famous phrase, "The medium is the message," because they tend to use new media in many of the same ways as they used old media and I do not think that necessarily works. The interactive potential of YouTube seems almost wholly untapped, though the rising prevalance of AMAs may signal that they are beginning to head in the right direction.