Five of Government's Top Social Media Accounts

Government social media accounts, if there’s one thing we know, it’s that they’re here to stay. Corner Alliance has talked about trends in digital government, the issues of convincing government employees to take advantage of social media, and also how to go about measuring digital in government. In all this research there are a few government agencies and programs that have really shown they’re on the cutting edge of social media.

These accounts have embraced various forms of social media, using it to connect with their stakeholders, communicate the importance of their work and create a recognizable brand with the American public. While there are many we could mention, these are the top five we want to call out as leading examples of digital government.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Facebook Account
This account does a great job of posting timely, relevant and vetted resources. You can find helpful Q&A videos on hot topics such as secondhand smoke and Ebola. CDC also does an excellent job of posting health and wellness best practices and activities. They have 466,875 likes and counting.

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Twitter Account
The Homeland Security Department's S&T is a rising star in the government Twitter world. It may only have 12,000 followers so far, but that number is sure to grow. Every month @dhsscitech hosts a Twitter chat to answer questions. The S&T undersecretary, Reginald Brothers, recently hosted a Twitter chat on how the directorate is reinventing government research and development and what that means for businesses and homeland security operators. We highly recommend you check it out.

The State Department’s YouTube Channel
The State Department maintains a well-organized channel. You can find remarks by Secretary John Kerry, daily press briefings and special videos on foreign policy issues. The department stays relevant by releasing candid interviews with U.S. diplomats and highlighting major holidays. Most recently, a video on International Women’s Day recognized the 2015 International Women of Courage. There are over 30,000 subscribers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Blog
FEMA posts informative blogs from a variety of FEMA employees regarding disaster preparation. They own the topic and develop subject matter expertise. Topics cover everything from how your technology is shifting to help you during an emergency to updates on how the government is best preparing for the unexpected.

The Transportation Security Administration’s Instagram Account
The more than 250,000 followers TSA has amassed are well-deserved. Pictures of confiscated items and what TSA prevents from getting on planes restore faith in our ability to travel. This also improves relations with customers when they have to go through security checks. TSA also highlights employees, K-9 companions, and best practices to remember when getting ready for a trip. For example, did you know that pie could be taken on a flight as a carry-on? Now you do. Next time you visit home, your mom’s famous pecan pie can come with you.

And the power-hitter honorable mention: NASA
Whether it’s Instagram, YouTube, Facebook or Twitter, NASA has always been at the forefront of how a government social media account should be handled. The agency features high-quality photos and video that offer a sneak peek into the life of an astronaut, both enticing and inspiring followers. They post consistently—multiple times a day—as well as interact with their followers. NASA is truly the golden child of government social media.

What other government accounts do you enjoy?

Chelsea Matzen is an operations associate at Corner Alliance.  

(Image via Quka/Shutterstock.com)