Week 2 Part B: Comparing How Businesses Use Social Media

 

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    Hello again readers, welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be going over a handful of government agency (businesses) that I looked at to see how they used social media. The agencies I will present are businesses with a state-wide, national, or international scope of operations.

    The National Security Agency is a steady user of social media. It frequents Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and occasions YouTube and Instagram. The NSA shows that they have a RSS feed, but it is not active. "The NSA exists to protect national communications systems integrity and to collect and process information about foreign adversaries' secret communications in support of national security and foreign policy."*

*https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/National-Security-Agency

    The Central Intelligence Agency is a steady user of Facebook. They also have a more regular appearance on Twitter. But as for the rest of the social media, it's either old posts or difficult to tell how often these get used. The CIA is a U.S. government agency that provides objective intelligence on foreign countries and global issues to the president, the National Security Council, and other policymakers to help them make national security decisions.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation uses social media more frequently and more ubiquitously than it's intel agency counterparts. It's social media updates are within a day, and often sooner. The FBI's mission is to Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations, espionage, and cyber operations. Combat significant cyber criminal activity. Combat public corruption at all levels. Protect civil rights.

    The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation uses Facebook and Twitter most frequently, averaging a post every few days. YouTube is used occasionally, and it's hard to tell when their Instagram pictures were last posted or how often it is used. The CDCR aims to facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

    The California Department of Education frequently uses Facebook and Twitter, and they are on it with regular posts! They have less regular posts on YouTube, but still have a presence. The CDE's RSS feed is unmaintained - the page comes up in code. The CDE's aim is that California will provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The Department of Education serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. 

    Well that's a lot of data, and even though it doesn't relate directly to social media use, I hope that my readers noticed the gross disparity between the number of employees in our state's department of education and that say of, our state's department of corrections and rehabilitation. Our habits betray our values.

    Aside from that, it appears that Facebook is a favorite among these government businesses, with Twitter as it's rival for posting regularity. Instagram and Flickr are also used, but typically without context - I don't see how these social media do anything to advertise, inform, or educate on behalf of the agencies. YouTube is used by all, but not frequently by any of the agencies. Although some advertised for it, none of these businesses had working RSS feeds.