MPs are stuck in 'send' mode
A new Hansard Society report, sponsored by Microsoft, MPs Online: Connecting with Constituents, reveals that MPs are using the internet primarily to inform their constituents rather than engage with them. The most widely used digital media are those which are mainly passive in nature, such as websites. Interactive forms of media which could be used by MPs to develop a two-way dialogue with their constituents, such as blogs and social networking, are used much less commonly. Where these tools are used, it is often in passive ‘send’ mode with few MPs exploiting their full interactive potential.
Key findings from the research are:
- 92% of MPs use email
- 83% of MPs have a personal website
- 23% of MPs use social networking
- 11% of MPs blog
The MPs Online research draws upon findings from a survey and focus group of MPs. It demonstrates that while there is almost universal use of email and adoption of websites, MPs’ use of social networking tools (such as Facebook or MySpace) is more variable: with factors other than party-led strategy proving more influential:
- London MPs are highest users of social networking tools (43%); MPs from Wales and the Midlands are lowest users (20%)
- Younger MPs (born after 1960) are highest users (38%); Older MPs (born before1940) are lowest users (14%)
- MPs elected in or after 2005 are highest users (40%); MPs elected in or before 1986 are lowest users (5%)
- The marginality of a constituency has little affect until the MP’s majority exceeds 30% - when there is a sharp decline in adoption
While blogging is popular with the media and internet users, it is less so among MPs. Only 11% have a blog and many of these do not enable the comment facility. Factors such as age and marginality of constituency do not appear to be a barrier but time, resources, the abusive reputation of the ‘blogosphere’ and the need to prioritise constituents’ needs all make blogging unpopular with MPs.
Andy Williamson, Director of the eDemocracy programme at the Hansard Society and author of the report, commented:
MPs are transmitting and not receiving. They use the internet as a tool for campaigning and for organising their supporters, rather than opening up two-way communication with constituents. The use of the internet for direct political engagement still remains a largely untapped area and, on the whole, one that is not well understood by MPs. One indication that this is changing comes in the rise of social networking tools, the use of which is up substantially in the past three years (from 3% in 2005 to 23% today) – suggesting the potential for greater engagement in the future.
Download the report here...