Digital mediums, especially social media platforms have emerged as tools for effective communication between the Government and the general people. Not just that, social media helps the Government to build the trust of the general public and saves it a lot of money because traditional public outreach is generally very expensive.One of the prime benefits of social media is the two-way engagement that it offers. Here, people can get in touch with politicians and Government agencies and hold a direct dialogue with them. This citizen engagement serves two purposes, first, it makes people feel safe because they're being heard and their issues addressed and second, it helps Government officials to maintain a human touch with the public and thereby effectively communicate any change in policies and guidelines in the future.
Crisis communication is another very huge benefit of social media. It allows the Government to communicate critical information during a crisis. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Government agencies and officials regularly put out posts, tweets, and stories on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram relating to the precautionary measures, availability of medicines in hospitals, and the ever-changing statistics of the recovered and affected patients. Recently, Indian students stuck in Russia and Ukraine posted a video of them on social media platforms to urge the Government to rescue them. The general public helped amplify it and made it reach the relevant authorities.Through social media, the Government also uses experts to disseminate information about topics related to health, safety, science, and well-being. This ecosystem of information by verified sources directly helps and assists the public.Apart from all this, social media humanizes the Government, encourages transparency and gives democracy a participatory mode, and empowers citizens in a holistic sense.