Independent Examiner’s Final Recommendation | 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. |
Issue Identified | 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. |
Does ALAC Support Recommendation? | Support |
If Not, Please Provide Reasoning. | Not Applicable |
If ALAC Does Not Support Recommendation, Does It Suggest an Alternative Recommendation? If so, please provide a suggested alternative Recommendation. | Not Applicable |
Prioritization | Medium Priority |
ALAC and Working Party Comments | The ALAC strongly supports this recommendation and currently makes use of various platforms and intends to both continue and to enhance such usage. At-Large already has an active, well-functioning Social Media Working Group with just this focus, looking at developing such uses of Social Media (one of the inward-looking WGs that are recommended to be abolished). 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. |
Possible Dependencies | Despite the interest in some participants using social media, there are other issues to consider. The ALAC does however note that not all ICANN issues are conducive to being summarized in 140 character sound-bites. 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. Access to some platforms is constrained by governments in some jurisdictions. |
Who Will Implement? | At-Large Social Media Working Group, ICANN Staff with input from At-Large leadership |
Resource Requirements | At-Large Social Media Working Group, ICANN Staff with input from At-Large leadership Further to this recommendation, the ALAC suggests that a pilot advertising program be funded to test the effectiveness of outreach through social networks. There may be requirements for additional staff resources. |
Budget Effects impact? | |
Implementation Timeline | |
Proposed Implementation Steps |
AT-LARGE GATEWAY
At-Large Regional Policy Engagement Program (ARPEP)
At-Large Review Implementation Plan Development
