Halloween at the White House was filled with lots of treats including one for social media professionals like yours truly: the announcement of the Obama administration’s digital transition plan that outlined how the presidential transition will work after having the first-ever social media POTUS in U.S. history.
After reading the WhiteHouse.gov blog about the plan, the phrase mindful social media came to mind. Why? The plan is well-thought-out. It reflects a high level of awareness of the present state of the Obama administration’s digital footprint and how it can be accessed in the future. Read more here.
Today, I’m encouraging digital and tech professionals interested in serving the U.S. Government to apply for the Presidential Innovation Fellowship. It’s a great way to give back, grow, and make America’s technology in government better. Click on the link for more details: https://presidentialinnovationfellows.gov.
Welcome to the second annual celebration! This year’s theme is “Use Your Digital Citizenship Voice.”
Before I say anything else, let me stop and give you a link that explains how and why I launched this 31-day digital experience in 2014.
This week, you are invited to join the #DigCitizenVoice conversation by sharing your definition of Digital Citizenship and how you are using your Digital Citizenship Voice.
To get you started, I have included my definition of Digital Citizenship and 10 tips to help you embrace your Digital Citizenship and Digital Citizenship Voice below.
Digital Citizenship is the act of marrying your passionate interests and digital presence to support campaigns, causes, events, ideas, movements, policies, programs, and values that build awareness and community, create positive change, and promote social good.
10 TIPS ON EMBRACING YOUR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP VOICE
1) Identify your passion and interests.
2) Find causes and campaigns that connect you to your passion and interests. Use hashtags to search for your tribe (people who share similar passions and interests). Conduct the search by going to Google or another search engine. Search on blog platforms (Blogger, Medium, Tumblr, and WordPress) and social media.
3) Launch and support causes and campaigns that improve the quality of life for people in your local, regional, national, and international communities.
4) Participate in local government events and document your participation on your blog and social media.
5) Build community. Once you find your tribe, listen to the conversations they are having. Join them when you have something to say. Ask questions. Follow the folks you are listening and talking to on your social media. Comment on social media status updates and blogs. Share them with people in your online network.
Take it a step further by participating in discussions that happen in Facebook groups, Google Hangouts, LinkedIn groups, Meerkat and Periscope events, Pinterest boards, podcasts, webinars, Twitter chats, Yahoo groups, and other online events.
Leave the digital world and attend a conference, event, or meet up in your local area. Get out and meet people face-to-face.
Reach out to one or two members of your tribe and schedule an in-person meet up. Go to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Grab a cup of coffee and tea. Connect over smoothies, ice cream, or a walk in the park.
6) Inspire and encourage. Use your blog, social media, and web site to share empowering and inspirational messages.
7) Educate and share information via your blog, email, social media, and web site.
8) Blog and post positive social media status updates about local businesses you patronize in your local community.
9) Celebrate local, state, national, and international holidays and observances to raise awareness about issues you care about.
10) For People Living in the United States: Engage in #socialcivics with the White House (especially Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman – @Goldman44 on Twitter) and Federal Government. The White House Conference on Aging will be held on July 13. Click here to learn how you can get involved:
Also, the White House sponsors #WHSocials, #WHMeetups, and online events each year to engage American citizens. Click here to learn more about the in-person events. Subscribe to the White House email updates to stay informed.
Photo Credit: White House photo by Dr. Janet Johnson
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch made social media history as the first Attorney General to join Twitter. Click on the link to read my blog post about Lynch’s Twitter presence furthering President Barack Obama’s digital civic engagement goals and making strides in the White House’s #socialcivics efforts: http://anandaleeke.tumblr.com/post/121810616943/latergram-repost-digitalsisterhood.
Today, the White House announced its July 13th Conference on Aging and #socialcivics digital engagement campaign that encourages Americans of all ages to get involved. Click on link to learn how you can get involved.
The White House blog published a great recap of President Obama’s Town Hall with BlogHer and SheKnows on April 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Click on the link to read it.
Ananda Leeke 