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ALAC should use social media more effectively to engage with end users (e.g. via Twitter / Facebook polls, etc.). These polls should not be binding in any way, but the ALAC could use them as a gauge of end user opinion.

Social media and other Internet-based tools could be used more effectively, and at minimal cost, to continuously survey and channel end-user input into ICANN policy making processes.

Status: Accept

Comment: The ALAC supports the use of Social Media, currently makes use of various platforms and intends to both continue and to enhance such usage. The ALAC has an active Social Media WG with just this focus.

The ALAC does however note that not all ICANN issues are conducive to being summarized in 140 character sound-bites, and that polling on such platforms are unrepresentative and not actionable.

(Perhaps reference to some platfomrs not available in all jurisdictions?)

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The ALAC strongly supports this recommendation and already has a well-functioning Social Media Working Group that is looking at developing such uses of Social Media (one of the inward-looking WGs that are recommended to be abolished). Further to this recommendation, the ALAC suggests that a pilot advertising program is funded to test the effectiveness of outreach through social networks. 

Many At-Large and ALAC members are already highly active in social media under their own handles and communicate in real time via Skype chats. At-Large boasts active Twitter and Facebook pages. The Social Media Working Group has looked at other tools such as Mattermost, Slack, Eno, as well as FLICKR and YouTube. Maximizing these tools to enhance internal communications as well as end-user participation will continue to be an important ALAC goal. 

Despite the interest in some participants using social media, there are other issues to consider. Polling on these platforms is unrepresentative and not actionable. Furthermore, because there are many of our members who are still unfamiliar with social media due to their lack of access, social media is skewed towards certain populations and cannot be presumed to be balanced.