A graphic depicting social media use. Kenyans joined the world in
celebrating Social Media Day on June 30, 2015. GRAPHIC | MICHAEL MOSOTA |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenyans joined the global community in celebrating World Social
Media Day on Tuesday, with the event highlighting how social media have
changed the way governments and companies communicate.
A series of activities held in Nairobi will culminate in the launch of the 2015 Social Media Awards Nominations Portal.
Social Media Day was launched in Kenya in 2010 with the aim of recognising its impact on global communications.
According to digital strategists and bloggers, social media have had a big impact on almost every aspect of the Kenyan society.
Private
companies and State departments have had to embrace social media to
improve their brands and customer service and how they communicate with
the public.
“Communication is faster and (more)
efficient, especially between the corporates and consumers and (between)
the government and its people,” says Mr Stephen Musyoka, the digital
media strategist at TRINC.
Mr Musyoka says social media have enabled people to put companies and the government to task by a single tweet.
He
adds that digital platforms have also enabled faster dissemination of
news and all media outlets in Kenya have accounts where they post
alerts.
“Years back, we had to wait for … (news) on
radio or (in newspapers) and (on) TV, (but) nowadays a Facebook post or
an Instagram photo does wonders. Alerts are a tweet away. But the three
Fs of journalism still apply in social media: first, fast, facts,” he
told Nation.co.ke
TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Mr
Musyoka says individuals have also started pages that have
revolutionised marketing, customer service and even transport systems.
He
cites Facebook pages such as Soko Kuu and Soko Nyeusi, where people
sell products, Buyer Beware, where people post complaints about
companies, and @Ma3Route that offers alerts about what happens on roads.
Government
agencies, too, have embraced social media as tools for instant
communication, though their adoption by State departments is deemed
slow.
The director of digital media in the Office of
the President, Mr Dennis Itumbi, says most state departments have not
embraced social media.
“Only 10 per cent of State departments are active on social media,” Mr Itumbi adds.
He
says the government is in the process of developing a social media
policy that will guide public servants on how to use social media.
“We
are keen on improving interactivity by State departments so that they
respond to queries. This will see Cabinet secretaries answer queries
from social media,” he adds.
ABUSE OF POWER
The
use of social media in regions outside Nairobi will also be boosted by
installing free Wi-Fi, which was recently launched in Nakuru.
Mr Itumbi says plans are at an advanced stage to launch free Internet in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Embu, Meru, Narok and Machakos.
Social media have also seen companies and government agencies put to task over service delivery.
Blogger Robert Alai says social media have empowered Kenyans to expose corruption, incompetence and abuse of power.
“Were
it not for social media, the MPs’ tirade at the Gilgil Weighbridge,
Nancy Baraza's pinching of an innocent guard's nose and others like the
Nakumatt price glitch would not have been so efficiently handled,” he
says.
He, however, adds that there are government officers who lament when Kenyans turn to social media to air the incompetencies.
“Kenyans
must call for responsible use of social media but must religiously
guard it as it has greatly improved citizen's interactions with the
government,” he says.
According to Mr Alai, social media have also changed activism.
“You
don't see yesterday's activists so active because activism has moved
from street battles to online, where facts get audited and validated by
ordinary citizens.
“You remember the Westgate and
Garissa University attacks, where social media users not only helped
report factually ahead of every mainstream media outlet but also rallied
the world to mourn with Kenya,” he says.
However, all
has not been rosy — social media have also had their negative side in
society, says digital media strategist Phillip Ogola.
He
adds that there are people who are fond of posting abusive comments
forgetting that the “digital footprints” may affect their future
careers.
“Employers search potential employees on social media and woe unto you if you have a dark past online,” he says.
He also cautions people not to post personal information online that may expose them to danger
“People
post their locations, homes and even (the) names and schools of their
children. This exposes them to danger from robbers and even kidnappers,”
he adds.
DANGER
He
says young people, even underage children nowadays have easy access to
negative posts on social media, since many own smartphones.
“Young children now view socialites as role models because of the way social media and blogs expose them,” he adds.
He cautions parents to monitor what their children are posting online as it could expose them to many kinds of danger.
Meanwhile,
the hashtag #SMDayKe was trending for the better part of the day, with
organisations stating how they use social media.
Kenya
Vision 2030 stated how it uses social media and posted, “Social media
(have) helped us communicate the (country’s) dvmpt. progress effectively
to the world.”
The Presidential Strategic Communications Unit tweeted: “Government uses Social media in #communicating transformation.
Kenya
Airports Authority Chairman David Kimaiyo also tweeted about Social
Media Day and stated: “I embrace the world of social media, It's highly
effective to reach out & engage. I value both +ve & -ve feedback
& opinions. Happy #SMDayKE.”
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