Why does social media matter?

This is just one recent example for how internet-based social media has profoundly changed the way we engage with others in the private and public sphere. Social activists, political campaigners, NGOs, government and business all increasingly make use of the connective power of these communication tools to mobilise support, produce knowledge, deliver services and engage with their stakeholders. Inspiring examples for innovative use of social media tools for fighting corruption and fostering sustainable development have emerged all over the world.

Social media – technology that allows users to share content on the web and interact easily with each other goes one step further. With better access to the internet and new services such as blogging platforms, youtube, facebook or flickr, summarised under the concept of web2.0, users have increasingly started to not only consume, but produce and share their ideas, texts and images. Social media empowers citizens to voice concerns, share observations and engagement in addressing and reporting corrupt activities themselves. In the social web, the fight against corruption becomes relevant for all citizens. It provides anyone with an opportunity to voice their concerns and engage in the fight against corruption. This can be done by signing a petition online, by gathering evidence of corrupt activities, or by blowing the whistle anonymously. In giving voice to unfiltered observations and sharing of information, blogs can play an important role for making governments, public institutions and corporations more accountable. A powerful example is the one from J. N. Jayashree from India, who started a blog to protect her husband – a whistleblower. Through the worldwide internet these voices suddenly become public making it more difficult for leaders to ignore them. As Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International said, the best tool to fight corruption is an empowered citizen.

The concept of citizen journalism, of citizens starting to observe acts of corruption and making them public, can be illustrated with the case of the Moroccan “Sniper” who filmed police corruption and made it available on Youtube. This led to the responsible police officers being held accountable.

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