Social media is changing the world of work. From Twitter to eBay, Facebook to YouTube, new tools are emerging every year that place the connecting power of the internet in the hands of everyone.

This document outlines how local authorities can use social media to achieve more for less. It also highlights the risk to councils if they ignore the technological advances of social media and the people using them. It demonstrates how developments in social media might affect, and be used in, the work of local government. It illustrates some of the amazing possibilities and highlights some of the risks to councils if they ignore these technological advances and the people using them.

The challenge for all councils now is to move social media off their list of challenges, and on to their list of opportunities. If they don’t, they face moving into a changing world under equipped and under-resourced. If they do though, they may find that the solutions they seek are right under their nose.

LOCAL BY SOCIAL is available from IDeA. http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/17801438